Exploring relation between art practice and documentarytropes

Karachi
The Goethe-Institut and the VM Art Gallery jointly launched the 11th issue of Pix, devoted exclusively to photography in Pakistan, on Saturday.
The latest issue of Pix, an India-based photography quarterly, is titled ‘Surge’ and was launched at the VM Art Gallery.
Amber Hammad, Asad Hayee, Malcolm Hutcheson, Salima Hashmi, Saskya Jain, Naiza Khan, Sana Khan, Arif Mahmood, Asef Ali Mohammad, Aun Raza, Saptarshi Sanyal and Marylise Vigneau are among the photographers that feature in the issue.
‘Surge’ explores the evolving relationship between art practice and documentary tropes as they occur in Pakistan.
An emphasis on personal space and gender as well as an exploration of private archives are also presented within the context of motivations and working practices.
Some of the concerns highlighted are: What constitutes the physical geography of photography today? How are images from Pakistan embedded in different social, cultural and historical conditions? How does the experience indicate the global conditions of photography?
Previous issues of Pix have dealt exclusively with various Indian cities, Iran (‘The Interior’) and Sri Lanka (‘Metamorphoses’).
The issue’s editor Nandita Jaishankar, photo editors Tanvi Mishra, Philippe Calia and Akshay Mahajan, and designer Arati Devasher had come all the way from India for the launch. Salima Hashmi, Arif Mahmood and Insiya Syed acted in an advisory capacity for the issue.
Apart from the enlargements of the photographs adorning the walls of the gallery, there was a panel discussion titled ‘Photography: Emerging Practices in Pakistan’. The panel comprised Tehmina Ahmed, Durriya Kazi, Arif Mahmood and Insiya Syed.
There were some revealing (read shocking) PowerPoint presentations of the drone attacks launched in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, killing innocent women, children and the elderly. The shots highlighted the intertwining of art and politics.
German Consul General Dr Tilo Klinner and Goethe-Institut Director Dr Manuel Negwer praised the artists for their outstanding work.
Dr Negwer lauded the integrating of the qualities of artists through exhibitions and projecting issues that affect the destinies of the region’s masses.