Courtesy of the Architect.
This November, Qatar Museums inaugurated MANZAR: Art and Architecture from Pakistan 1940s to Today (1 November 2024–31 January 2025), a landmark exhibition that traces Pakistan’s artistic and architectural evolution from the 1940s to the present. Showcasing over 200 works across diverse mediums—including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, installation, and tapestry—the exhibition offers a view into the rich artistic traditions and modernist movements that have shaped Pakistan’s cultural landscape. It includes contributions by contemporary artists and architects from Pakistan and its diaspora, presenting a multidimensional view of the country’s visual and architectural narratives.
Held at the National Museum of Qatar, MANZAR is organised by the upcoming Art Mill Museum in partnership with Qatar Museums. The exhibition occupies both the gallery spaces and the courtyard of the Palace of Sheikh Abdullah bin Jassim Al Thani, creating an immersive experience. Designed by architect Raza Ali Dada, the exhibition is divided into twelve sections that reveal how Pakistani artists have responded to international modernist movements, forging unique expressions that resonate within Pakistan’s social and cultural fabric.
Through thematic galleries, MANZAR explores Pakistan’s aesthetic journeys—from nation-building and calligraphy to neo-miniature painting, urban vernacular, and the politics of land and water. Featuring loans from prestigious institutions like the Alhamra Art Museum in Lahore, the Pakistan National Council of the Arts, and private collections worldwide, MANZAR illuminates lesser-known global art histories, illustrating their connections to broader cultural trends.
The Urdu and Arabic title MANZAR means “scene,” “view,” or “perspective,” encapsulating the exhibition’s aim to present Pakistan’s artistic legacy from multiple angles. It begins with works by early artists like Abdur Rahman Chughtai and Zainul Abedin, whose practices bridged the colonial period and the newly formed state of Pakistan. This foundational period is followed by works from modernist pioneers such as Shakir Ali, Sadequain, and Zubeida Agha, who cultivated unique artistic languages in urban centres like Karachi, Lahore, and Dhaka.
Art Mill Museum, Qatar Museums, Doha. Courtesy of Grosvenor Gallery, London, photograph Justin Piperger.
A special focus on architectural innovation highlights key figures and projects that shaped Pakistan’s landscape. The first phase of Pakistan’s development enlisted architects from around the world, including Michel Ecochard, Konstantínos Doxiádis, and Louis Kahn, whose designs established foundational national structures. MANZAR also examines the impact of local architects such as Nayyar Ali Dada, Kamil Khan Mumtaz, and Yasmeen Lari, and how the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (first held in Lahore in 1980) fueled regional architectural dialogues.
Highlights include multidisciplinary artists Zahoor ul Akhlaq, Rasheed Araeen, Salima Hashmi, and Rashid Rana, whose works challenge Western art narratives and explore the social and political issues within and beyond Pakistan. The exhibition also covers the neo-miniature movement, represented by artists like Shahzia Sikander, and showcases works from prominent diaspora artists such as Huma Bhabha and Salman Toor.
Expanding into the courtyard, MANZAR features installations by artists like Amin Gulgee and Omer Wasim, while Yasmeen Lari and the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan present bamboo shelters designed for flood relief, highlighting environmental sustainability. A public program of performances, talks, and screenings complements the exhibition, along with a scholarly catalogue featuring essays by distinguished contributors from Pakistan and beyond.
© Qatar Museums, photograph Noorulain Ali.
Location: National Museum of Qatar
Dates: 1 November 2024–31 January 2025