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    'The Future is Now' – A Cultural Narrative by 10 Artists

    Art Exhibition 'The Future is Now' at ArtChowk, Karachi

    Written by: Nageen Shaikh
    Posted on: August 22, 2016 | | 中文

    'An Old Man' - Waqas Khatri

    A group show by 10 artists from Jamshoro District of Sindh opened at ‘ArtChowk – the Gallery’ in Karachi on August 18. ArtChowk is a virtual gallery and art resource that seeks to promote emerging artists from South Asia. Titled The Future Is Now, the show features drawings that comprise sketching, mixed media, hatching, cross hatching and ink. They convey the local symbolism of Jamshoro City and its surrounding villages in the most skillful and thoughtful manner, as this is where the inspiration of these talented artists stems from. Each of the 10 male artists has dexterously presented his own interpretation of the future, and has symbolized the nationalistic value of the objects and life circumstances of the people shown in each work. 

    Art Exhibition 'The Future is Now' at ArtChowk, Karachi

    source: 'ArtChowk' Facebook page

    While speaking to Muhammad Majeeb on his very finely detailed works, I discovered that the intricate rendering on his drawings took him 10-12 days, which demonstrates not only his prodigious skill as an artist, but also showcases the vibrant culture of the village he hails from. He has skillfully drawn the knitting patterns and the thick-knitted cloth of his birth town. Similarly, Waqas Khatri expresses his political stance by sketching his interpretation of the future with what appears to be a current political leader, along with other descriptive sketches showing a woman draped in a chaadar (long scarf), something that is quintessential of his town.

    Art Exhibition 'The Future is Now' at ArtChowk, Karachi

    'People of Manchar' - Abid Hussain

    Saeed Lakho, Faiz M. Supro, Abid Hussain and Farooque Ali Chandio express the importance of objects from interior Sindh that are heavily symbolic of their people, their everyday circumstances, and the toil with which they make their livelihood possible. One cannot help but admire the simple yet indispensable transport vehicle, the Tanga, which is brilliantly captured by Supro, giving at once a nostalgic and ever-lasting element to the place he hails from.

    Art Exhibition 'The Future is Now' at ArtChowk, Karachi

    'Tanga' - Faiz M. Supro

    Art Exhibition 'The Future is Now' at ArtChowk, Karachi

    Naeem Akhtar's take on the future

    Following an entirely different narrative, Shahid Aziz believes that technology is what the future holds, and his drawings portray the same with intricate drawings of nuts and bolts, all mashed in together. Naeem Akhtar expresses faith in the strength of the children he teaches in Karachi, all young and eager to learn and grow. Moved by their enthusiasm and raw potential, Naeem puts forward his drawings of them, as a symbol of what the future holds. Zameer Hussain and Shafiq Tunio express love and admiration for their culture and showcase the geography of Jamshoro with expressive drawings done proficiently in pen and ink.

    The exhibition is being well-received by media and art critics alike, as multiple media channels have interviewed these talented artists already. It is pleasing to see these artists coming forward with such talent and being facilitated by mainstream art galleries. The local culture needs to be presented in artistic fashion, for it is art that can capture the hearts of the masses and bring out the beauty that our culture has to offer.

    The exhibition will continue at ArtChowk Gallery till September 1.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021