ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Kazakhstan Erjan Kistafin witnessing a photo exhibition at the Pakistan National Art Gallery. -DNA
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ISLAMABAD: PNCA hosted a remarkable photography exhibition, Fly on the Wall’ curated by the esteemed Aasim Akhtar, at the prestigious Pakistan National Council of the Arts under the banner of the Visual Arts Division. This groundbreaking showcase features the works of both national and international photographers, offering a profound exploration of their diverse perspectives and compelling narratives. The group show includes Ali Mehdi Zaidi, Arif Mehmood, Ayesha Vellani, Aysha Bilal, Hamid Moinuddin, Lukas Werth, Malcom Hutcheson, Shehzad Noorani, Stephan Andrew, William Dalrymple and Zaheer Chaudry.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. Y. Kistafin, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan, in a grand ceremony along with the Director-General of PNCA, Mr. Ayub Jamali. The opening ceremony witnessed the presence of renowned photographers Ayesha Bilal, Zaheer Chaudhry, and Arif Mehmood, whose outstanding contributions to the field were highly appreciated by the enthusiastic audience.
Under the theme of “Retelling the Story of Pakistani Photographers’ Journey,” Aasim Akhtar’s curation aims to provide a fresh perspective on the profound and often overlooked work of Pakistani photographers. The exhibition emphasizes the importance of revisiting their narratives, fostering connections among peers, and encouraging a collective reflection on their shared responsibility as witnesses to history.
This exhibition defies conventional expectations, rejecting hierarchy and showcasing a diverse array of works that coalesce to form a captivating narrative. Aasim Akhtar’s selection process focused on initiating a dialogue among the photographers, allowing them to communicate with each other through their images and share their unique visions with the public. The exhibition emphasizes the deep mutual respect within the photography community, highlighting that no photographer or genre is deemed greater or nobler than another.
As Aasim Akhtar aptly puts it, “I have eschewed hierarchy because, in photography, it does not exist. What does exist is a deep mutual respect. No photographer is greater than another, no genre nobler than the next.”
This captivating exhibition showcases the convergence of diverse views, turning the photographers’ gaze on the world, scrutinizing it fragment by fragment. Each photograph, regardless of style or subject, serves as a testament to the photographers’ compulsive urge to bear witness to the human experience.
The exhibition is open to the public at PNCA till 13 February 2024, offering an immersive journey through the lens of these talented photographers. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the collective power of their perspectives, as they invite us to contemplate our fragility, the ephemeral nature of life, and the traces we leave behind.
