Written by: Sana Shahid
Posted on: December 03, 2024 | 
| 中文
Untitled by Shaharyar Naeem
The art exhibition Haryali is more than a celebration of artistic expression; it is a profound commentary on sustainability and cultural diplomacy. Organized to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Denmark, the exhibition brings together a diverse array of artists and mediums to confront one of the most urgent global phenomena: climate change. The exhibition is silently warning people of the consequences of Climate Change and how people are destroying the land they live in. The exhibition opened on the 15th of November at the Danish Residence in Islamabad.
Song of the Spring by Muhammad Atif Khan
At the heart of Haryali is the vision of its curator, Fang Wang and Usman Ahmed, who draw upon their experiences in both Eastern and Western contexts to shape the exhibition’s theme. As a trained architect and advocate for sustainability, Wang found inspiration in Pakistan’s vibrant traditions and pressing environmental issues. Her approach is grounded in a comparison between Denmark’s successful model of transitioning towards clean energy and Pakistan’s current struggles with fossil fuels, pollution and deforestation, increasing the impacts of climate change. This cross-cultural exhibition not only facilitated the artists by showcasing their works, but is also bridging the gap towards the environmental challenges that Pakistan is facing while keeping Denmark in clear sight as an example.
Sara Shakeel's artwork
The exhibition features the work of 36 artists, who collectively explore sustainability through a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, video installations and mixed media. Each piece provides a unique lens on environmental concerns, reflecting the artists’ individual narratives and cultural contexts. Imran Qureshi’s commemorative stamp design is a standout piece that combines elements of South Asian miniature painting with Scandinavian white and minimal aesthetics, conveying a merger of the East and the West. The symbolic floral patterns in green slowly converting into red petals depicts the ecological urgencies that Pakistan is facing now and for the years to come.
Sustainable Gardens by Mariam Hanif
Bushra Waqas Khan transforms state documents like affidavits into intricate patterns, offering a critique of both colonial and patriarchal systems. Her works are a true reflection of sustainability using recycled materials as Khan drapes printed cloth on a two-dimensional surface creating beautiful contours. The material used in her works is silk, which is quite difficult to handle and fold, yet her drapes are well-balanced and symmetrical, seeming nearly impossible to achieve.
Karim Ahmed Khan’s "Branch" series, crafted in charcoal, reflects on deforestation and renewal, with delicate images of foliage extinction, symbolizing the reality of climate change globally. Khan has explored a rather dark image where forests are fading away, scarcity and deforestation have taken over the motherland. This once-unimaginable truth is forcing Pakistan into experiencing dense smog, lack of rains, dry weather, relentless floods, melting glaciers and landslides. Khan’s work shows how many artists in this country feel about their motherland and would go to any lengths to open the eyes of the authorities to resolve these issues before it is too late.
Branch I by Karim Khan
Fang Wang’s Boutique, made from three weeks of her personal waste, critiques the persistent culture of consumerism and calls for a more mindful living. Wang has been residing in Pakistan for over two years now and has travelled across the country. She has seen everything from beautiful meadows to gigantic mountains and clear waters, and its unending beauty. Wang feels that people are more focused on consumerism and remain ignorant of what is right in front of them; the nature which they are destroying with their own hands by buying more based on their desires instead of needs. Her piece is a reminder of the need for proper waste management policies across the country to prevent the land from getting bombarded by trivial wrappers, bottles, cans and cardboard etc.
Boutique by Fang Wang
The innovative use of materials throughout Haryali is one of its defining features. Many of the artworks challenge traditional boundaries, incorporating every day or discarded objects to emphasize the importance of resourcefulness and sustainability. Wang’s work transforms waste into a visual statement, illustrating the potential for discarded materials to be reimagined as tools of advocacy. Similarly, Nazir Hunzai’s sculptures, created from plastic bottles and resin, juxtaposes industrial elements with organic forms like animals, confronting viewers with the reality of humanity’s exploitative relationship with nature. These sculptures are a hybrid of oil shaped containers and plastic water bottles as the body with tall legs that seem like that of an ostrich. This amalgamation of living and non-living things, beautifully comments on humans’ exploitation of nature that is destroying other living creatures along with it.
An artwork by Sadaf Naeem
Beyond its artistic achievements, Haryali underscores the role of art as a tool for cultural diplomacy. By showcasing the works of both emerging and established Pakistani artists, the exhibition not only celebrates the country’s rich artistic heritage but also encourages international dialogue. The event’s significance is further increased by its exclusive audience of diplomats, government officials and prominent art collectors, as well as extensive media coverage and the distribution of the exhibition catalog. These efforts position Haryali as a cultural milestone, demonstrating the power of art to raise awareness amongst the people, and inspires collective action.
One of the most impactful outcomes is the selection of the artists with their outstanding artworks by the top-notch duo of curators, Fang Wang and Usman Ahmed. Haryali not only provided a platform to the artists to exhibit their works, but also an opportunity for one of the winning pieces to be featured on one million official stamps released by the government of Pakistan.
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