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EXHIBITION: AN ARTISTIC FEAST
As Lahore continues to bloom with art exhibitions in October and November, the city increasingly feels like a vast, ever-expanding art gallery.
Amidst this creative momentum, the National College of Arts (NCA) in Lahore organised its first-ever Triennale — an expansive platform that brought together artistic voices from across Pakistan and around the globe. The scope of the event extends beyond exhibitions, as it is supporting workshops, residencies, performances and public interactions, in order to build a vibrant visual dialogue shaped by multiple perspectives.
I had the privilege of attending the inauguration ceremony and, the following day, I interviewed Professor Dr Murtaza Jafri, Vice Chancellor of NCA, to discuss his vision behind curating and executing an event of such magnitude — one that also marked 150 years of the institution’s legacy and artistic excellence. In Jafri’s words, it was “a dream that finally found its form.”
Though organised in only three months, and not without a few minor gaps, the event’s substantial community impact far outweighed any shortcomings. Open calls were announced for national and international artists to present their work under the theme “Kasb-i-Kamal Kun”, a Persian/Urdu phrase meaning “Make excellence your pursuit.” The theme also paid homage to the historic legacy of the Mayo School of Arts, where artists were celebrated for their craftsmanship and pursuit of excellence.
Lahore’s NCA Triennale was a sumptuous celebration of Pakistan’s rich artistic past and present
The platform embraced works from the Mayo School archives/old masters, alongside contributions from alumni, emerging artists, recent graduates, students and even independent creators who lacked access to formal exhibition spaces. Twenty-two international artists participated, including one from Palestine, Mohammad Al Hawajri.
Ten workshops were conducted prior to the Triennale, offering students and young practitioners valuable opportunities to learn from global experts. It stood as a powerful example of community engagement — bridging borders, celebrating diversity and bringing creative minds together for dialogue and collective inspiration.
Moving on to the works displayed — the Zahoorul Akhlaq Gallery, along with contemporary artists, presented archival pieces by Lahore’s old masters: Ustad Bashir ud Din, Salima Hashmi, Sabir Nazar, Mohammad Asif, Khalid Iqbal, Shakir Ali, Masood Hameed, Zahoorul Akhlaq, Ijaz Hassan, Saeed Akhtar, Aijaz Hassan, Ghulam Mustafa, Iqbal Hussain, Nazish Ataullah, Zulfiqar Zulfi, Mohammad Javed and Nayyar Ali Dada.
‘Kitab Ghar’ presents works by 66 illustrators, curated by the British Museum’s curator Venetia Porter. The display features book covers created for renowned writers by artists such as Imran Qureshi, Ali Kazim, Sarah Mumtaz, Saeed Akhtar, Safia Khan, Maryam Bani Asadi and Murtaza Jafri, among others.
Rashid Rana’s site-specific installation titled Everything and Nothing, executed in inkjet print on vinyl, unfolds like a vast visual archive — a library of books woven in a minute scale. The work reflects on stories once significant but now forgotten on the shelves. Composed of hundreds of pixelated Renaissance images, it probes how history, art and technology intersect.
At the top of ‘Kitab Ghar’, Imran Qureshi’s canvases embody the expressive act of flinging pigment on to large surfaces, transforming abstraction into storytelling. His compositions unfold like metaphoric landscapes — gardens evolving under the shadow of political unrest and pervasive violence. Suspended in time, these works capture silent movements and shifting characters, offering a meditation on fragility and resilience.
Hamra Abbas’ miniature portraits impress with their precision at such a small scale. Usman Saeed’s Saira Bibi stands out for its detailed technique and social commentary. Overall, the miniature works engage viewers through their meticulous craftsmanship, structured album formats, and refined exhibition presentation.
Murtaza Jafri’s pencil sketches rely on minimal line work and gesture drawing, capturing posture, weight and mood. The sketched figures sit in reflective inward-looking pose — shoulders curved, head slightly bowed — suggesting a contemplative pose. Ali Azmat’s DANGAL demonstrates his deep interest in Pakistani truck art and its traditional portrayals of the pehalwans [wrestlers] and their sport.
Masuma Halal Khwaja’s beautifully hand-woven textile collage reflects a deep sense of effort and artistic precision. With varied works, such as Sound of Distant Drums, Charlie Aur Hum, Adoration of the Magi and Similar Histories Different Futures, she invites the viewer to perceive the work through multiple perspectives.
Khalil Chishti, who is based in New York, explores human conditions, societal issues and his personal narrative through an iron calligraphy installation. A War of Narratives, an encaustic-on-board work by the Canada-based Amin Rehman, offers a strong commentary on neo-colonialism, political turmoil and aggressive globalisation, raising critical questions about human sufferings.
The widely painted theme of Saint Veronica offering her veil to Christ has long symbolised devotion and empathy. In Optimistic 2, R.M. Naeem reinterprets this theme on a personal level, reflecting his longing for his wife, who moved abroad for studies. The towel-like cloth echoes the idea of symbolic presence, while the child — represented through a toy — signifies his care and affection for their young child.
Ultimately, the Triennale not only showcased the rich diversity of artistic voices but also reaffirmed Lahore’s position as a thriving hub of creativity and dialogue.
The NCA Triennale was on display at the National College of Arts, Lahore from October 31-November 30, 2025
The writer is an art critic, fine artist and educationist based in Lahore. She can be reached at ayeshamajeed2015@gmail.com
Published in Dawn, EOS, November 30th, 2025
Coffee-stealing parrot captured at a cafe
Police in Seoul were called to a cafe in Yangpyeong-dong after a loose parrot was spotted stealing coffee from customers.
The friendly yellow-crowned Amazon parrot, native to Central America and an endangered species, was fed snacks by the owner while authorities arrived.
Officials are working to identify the bird’s owner; if it cannot be returned, it will be cared for at a government animal facility.
1939 Superman No. 1 sells for record $9.12 million
A 1939 copy of SupermanNo. 1 sold for a record-breaking $9.12 million, making it the world’s most expensive comic book.
Found by a Northern California family while clearing their late mother’s attic, the comic was graded 9.0 by CGC, the highest known for this issue.
One of only seven copies rated 6.0 or higher, it surpassed the previous $6 million record set in 2024 by Action Comics No. 1. Heritage Auctions hailed the sale as a milestone in pop culture collecting.
Turkeys offer comfort, not just dinner
At The Gentle Barn in Tennessee, rescued animals, including turkeys, are part of a unique therapy programme that helps people connect and find comfort.
Visitors like Jordan Gullotta have cuddled turkeys such as Smudge, discovering the birds’ affectionate, intelligent and calm nature. Founder Ellie Laks explains that turkeys are often misunderstood as unintelligent, but they can provide one-on-one attention similar to dogs, cats and horses.
The 60 animals at the farm have all been rescued from poor living conditions or abuse, with some needing special care like acupuncture or wheelchairs. The farm offers year-round therapy sessions, holiday events and opportunities for people to sponsor rescued animals to help with care costs.
The world’s largest afro
Jessica L. Martinez of New York has been certified by Guinness World Records for the largest afro on a living female, measuring 6 feet, 2.87 inches in circumference. She received the title from her predecessor, Aevin Dugas, who held it for 15 years.
Martinez’s afro stands 11.42 inches tall and 12.2 inches wide. She stopped straightening her hair in college and went “cold-turkey,” embracing her natural curls. The record required a team of three to measure her hair, and Martinez described the achievement as “absolutely incredible.”
Published in Dawn, Young World, December 6th, 2025
Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer who lived in the 1800s and made a name for himself as the “father” of several story genres, such as detective stories, science fiction and spooky horror tales. In his lifetime, he became famous primarily because of one poem, The Raven, but there was more to the great author/poet than many know.
This book, Who Was Edgar Allan Poe? by Jim Gigliotti, helps young readers learn more about Poe’s life and why his stories often feel dark or sad.
The book, filled with illustrations by Tim Foley, takes you back to a time when life was tough, especially for actors and immigrants like Poe’s parents.
Poe’s life wasn’t easy. He lost both his parents when he was just two years old and was adopted by a family in Virginia. He loved his foster mother very much, but his foster father wanted to control his future.
Poe attended boarding school on the insistence of his foster father and later joined the army to seek a stable job, but deep down he knew he wanted to be a writer more than anything else.
And he became a great one! Poe created the first fictional detective ever, C. Auguste Dupin, who inspired the famous Sherlock Holmes. He also helped shape the genres of science fiction and modern horror.
Some of his most famous stories include The Fall of the House of Usher, The Masque of the Red Death and The Tell-Tale Heart.
The book explains where Poe got his ideas and how his difficult life, losing his mother, foster mother and later his wife, shaped the sad tone of many of his stories.
It also describes the strange and mysterious way he died at age 40, a mystery that still puzzles people today.
At the end of the book, there are two timelines: one showing the events of Poe’s life and another showing what was happening in the world around him.
Even though Poe had many critics during his lifetime and after his death, his writing proved his true talent. Today, the Edgar Allan Poe Awards are given every year to honour the best mystery writers, keeping his legacy alive nearly 200 years later.
Published in Dawn, Young World, December 6th, 2025
Hurain was sitting in the lounge with her parents, her eyes glued to the TV screen. It read BREAKING NEWS: “Climate change is at its peak.” Sighs followed as her parents watched the news with dread.
“Why all that sighing? Surely, there were no floods, droughts or heatwaves in a quiet town like ours. What was climate change about that?” She wondered, oblivious to her naivety.
Her mother called, “Hurain, come along, I have some shopping to do.” She ran up to her mother and immediately put on her shoes. The market was just two streets away, so they walked.
As soon as they stepped outside, Hurain felt the haze; her eyes became all puffy with water, and she felt as if needles were pinning her throat. Her mother noticed this, gave her a mask and explained, “Do you know this is because of smog?
Hurain coughed, “Ughh… the smog?”
Mother continued, “This haze you see is smog. The smog comes from big polluted cities and spreads to small towns like ours, one of the influences of climate change. The effects are cough and respiratory diseases. But, sadly, no one takes caution, thinking it’s not that serious.” At this, she lowered her head in dismay.
Hurain, absorbing all of this, was shocked. “Why do people not take this seriously?” she asked.
“That’s because people learn things the hard way,” explained her mother, and pointed to the fish market they were entering.
She had been a frequent visitor to the fish market, but never had there been fewer fish than she saw that day. She was looking around at the familiar carts when she overheard the shopkeeper “This is becoming a terrible business. With fewer fish every time, how are we going to survive?”
The other replied, “Yes, I heard rising sea temperatures due to climate change and also man-made disasters are the biggest cause of fewer fish.”
Her heart sank and she wondered, ‘No more fish?’ That was her favourite winter meal!
After buying the stuff they needed, they headed back home. Her mother looked at the gloomy face of her daughter and asked the reason. Hurain disclosed her concern about what she heard in the market.
In response, her mother’s eyes sparkled as she said, “We may not be able to stop it all that is taking place in the environment by ourselves, but we can spread awareness by telling everyone to prevent the risks of climate change. Start by spreading it to your friends and community.
“You like drawing, don’t you? You can make posters and hang them all around,” her mother encouraged her.
Her mother’s words left a profound impact on Hurain and she became determined to spread awareness through any means.
Climate change is not just about the disasters we normally associate with. It has now become a part of our lives, without us realising it.
Dear fellow readers, it is up to us to take small steps to fight it and protect our environment.
Let’s draw a poster, tell a friend, raise awareness and help save our planet!
Published in Dawn, Young World, December 6th, 2025
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