Doha: “MANZAR: Art and Architecture from Pakistan 1940s to Today,” currently on display at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), concludes its run on January 31, 2025. To mark the closing of this exhibition, Art Mill Museum will present a three-day program that includes talks, a workshop, and a concert, as well as the Pakistani Food Festival, held in collaboration with the Embassy of Pakistan.
According to Qatar News Agency, the grand finale begins on Wednesday with a talk by Pakistani writer and artist Salima Hashmi. Hashmi will examine the practices of artists who have defined the past five decades of artmaking in Pakistan. She will highlight the work of three generations of artists, spanning various mediums including oil on canvas, sculpture, mixed media, printmaking, video, and performance.
The talk will be followed by a musical performance by Aga Khan Master Musicians, alongside aspiring artists from Qatar Museum’s Music Lab, a creative hub dedicated to elevating Qatar’s musical landscape and nurturing young musical talent through initiatives, programs, events, and creative spaces that contribute to the development, promotion, and sustainability of music culture in Qatar.
On Thursday, the program continues with a roundtable discussion titled “Voices in Art: A Cross-Cultural Dialogue on Art and Education.” Three artists and educators from Lahore and Karachi will join a dialogue with Manzar and some of Qatar’s artists and art educators, including Wafika Sultan and Hannan Bu Muzah. The discussion is moderated by Saida Al Bader.
Since its opening on November 1, Manzar has showcased the contributions of artists and architects who have shaped the narratives, histories, and contemporary perspectives of Pakistan’s cultural landscape and its diasporas since the 1940s. Organized by the future Art Mill Museum in collaboration with the National Museum of Qatar, the exhibition includes over 200 works, such as paintings, photographs, sculptures, videos, miniatures, and commissioned artworks, as well as Yasmeen Lari’s architectural pavilions.
The exhibition inspired a successful winter camp and a series of guided school tours. The “Manzar Ka Safar: A Journey Through Art, Architecture, and Culture” winter camp hosted 452 participants with activities inspired by Pakistan’s cultural heritage, including interactive tours, hands-on art sessions, and family-friendly experiences.
