Curatorial Note

Art and culture are no longer merely aesthetics but interventions into our social structures, iconic markers and tools that allow us to record, process and document world events. While art is an expression of human engagement, the ongoing pandemic has forced isolation upon humankind as a shared experience. It has become vital now more than ever to appreciate that the arts are embedded in a wider online experience in terms of both, current and archived data.

At any given time in history, keeping art relevant to a diverse set of viewers raises some poignant questions: should the work be considered under a specific criteria or time period or is there a point of view being annexed to enhance the thematic experience of the exhibit? As an independent curator seeking to develop research-based projects, the ever-evolving aim is to approach these concerns and to continue to add to contemporary discourse.

Third Space: Room 1 is the first of such rooms – a collection of independent works by select Pakistani artists of established and emerging talents, each embodying individuality and sensitivity that connects on a personal as well as universal level. Owing to the times, these artworks are a representation of perseverance in the face of a mutating virus, isolation, overcoming personal struggle and navigating a sense of anonymity as each artist creates irrespective of the others.