Written by: Ayesha Amir
Posted on: February 06, 2025 | 
| 中文
Panelists and guests come together for a group picture
In recent times, there have been conversations around the importance of introducing art in pedagogical practice. But a more pressing point of concern is the teaching of art itself, how should one theorize art? Is art practice something that can be theorized in the first place? How to document and archive the practices of teaching art? These are all important discussions in the light of Pakistan’s art scene. It is hence a commendable effort that the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore hosted a notable symposium on art and design education on January 28th, 2025. The symposium was titled “For the Record: Documenting Teaching and Learning,” and it was held at the Shakir Ali Auditorium in NCA campus premises. This event not only marked the launch of Pakistan’s first peer reviewed Journal of Art and Design Education Pakistan (JADEP), but also served as the inaugural event for NCA's 150th anniversary celebrations. An enriching inaugural symposium was a fitting celebration for a hundred and 50 year-long legacy of South Asia’s foremost art institute.
NCA on the day of the inaugural event.
The symposium convened a distinguished panel of artists, curators, educators and researchers from across Pakistan, to discuss the importance of documenting art and design education practices. The discussions shed light on the need for preserving teaching methodologies and learning practices to ensure their transmission to future practitioners of art as well as art pedagogy experts. The panel was moderated by visual artist and educator Rabeya Jalil.
Students' work at NCA.
The guest speakers on the panel were some of Pakistan’s distinguished figures in the field of art and education. Dr. Rahat Masud is a renowned artist, educator and curator, whose work with figurative art addresses social and political issues. A recipient of the Presidential 'Pride of Performance' Award, she has served as Principal of the College of Art and Design and Dean at the University of Punjab. Architect and conservator Sajjad Kausar has engaged in restoration works, including Lahore’s Tollinton Market, and has co-authored a book on Shalamar Gardens. Art critic and curator Quddus Mirza has worked across exhibitions, writing endeavours, and as editor of Art Now Pakistan. Design educator Zeb Bilal has engaged in curriculum design and craft practices, drawing from two decades of academia experience and work on UNESCO exhibitions. Saira Danish Ahmed is an art historian and academic writer, whose work is shaped by 25 years of academia experience. Artist and educator Ali Raza has worked for international exhibitions and taught in Pakistan and the US. Tazeen Hussain, an Associate Professor at Habib University and former Head of Communication Design at IVS, specializes in design education and media practice, and has held advisory roles in various institutions and film festivals.
The panelists and the audience
Given that it was such a distinguished panel with rich experience, as an audience member it was an enthralling experience. In addition to insightful conversations on art and design education, we were also introduced to JADEP formally. It is to be noted that this publication aims for further critical discourse, academic research and intellectual exploration in the fields of art and design education, both regionally and globally. JADEP is an effort to bring forth NCA's commitment to exploring contemporary educational practices in art and design. The inaugural issue of the journal will include peer reviewed research papers from various contributing authors. We have been given a sneak peek into the journal, which will include exciting research along the areas of the arts’ relationship with social change, modernity, pedagogy, curriculum frameworks, aestheticism and much more.
The panelists
At the inaugural event, the symposium and the launch of JADEP set the tone for a series of events honoring NCA's 150 years of excellence in art education. These initiatives not only celebrate the institution's rich legacy but also reinforce its role as a platform for showcasing research and preservation efforts for the rich art and design education of the region. In his address, NCA Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Murtaza Jafri, emphasized the institution's dedication to inspiring and equipping the next generation of artists and designers. He stated, “In the domain of art, not only should artists and educational institutes come together, but also organize similar symposiums and seminars.”
NCA's Vice Chancellor addressing the audience.
The panel ended with an insightful question-and-answer session with the audience members, where some very interesting points were raised. The guest speakers conveyed that we should take pride in Pakistan and South Asia’s rich array of art practices, and that documenting and archiving them is a sustainable practice. On the topic of sustainability, it was mentioned that the act of sustaining is itself an art; introducing past practices is viable because our artisans’ practices have already been sustainable. It now falls upon us to mend the disruption in our historic continuity caused by the colonial period. Art journals offer the first step towards researching, archiving and documenting the art practices at least within Pakistan.
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