Sanat Initiative

10/06/2026

Next at Sanat Initiative ‘Unspoken’ by Nazar Ul Islam opens on Tuesday 16 June

Nazar ul Islam began his formal artistic journey at CEAD Mehran University followed by further specialization at the School of Visual & Performing Arts (formerly Arts Council Institute of Arts and Crafts) where he achieved a landmark milestone by securing First Position and being awarded a Gold Medal at the Regional Level. He has held numerous successful solo exhibitions, notably at the Sanat Initiative, showcasing his evolution and mastery to local audiences. On the global stage, he has represented Pakistan in a number of international group shows, with his most recent acclaim coming from his exhibition in Belfast, UK.

Artist Statement

Centred on the human figure, my paintings examine the complex intersections of identity and systemic inequality within the contemporary society. While racism is often understood through the lens of visible difference, my work focuses on its more subtle and pervasive manifestations, those embedded within social, cultural, and economic structures that shape everyday experiences. I am interested in how systems of value are constructed and maintained, and how individuals are categorized, judged, and granted social visibility according to markers of status, wealth, and access. Through portraiture, I seek to foreground the human subject within these broader systems of consumption and power. The figures in my paintings occupy a space where individuality intersects with cultural expectation, revealing the tensions between personal identity and the social values imposed by the contemporary society. In my current collection titled ‘Unspoken’, I invite viewers to question and consider how economic privilege continues to shape opportunities, relationships, and perceptions of self. Ultimately, my work aims to open a dialogue about the often-unseen mechanisms through which inequality is normalized and sustained. By examining the relationship between social status and human dignity, these paintings encourage reflection on the ways systems of power influence not only how we see others, but also how we understand ourselves.

07/06/2026

Thank you for your The News on Sunday review of Casim Mahmood’s recently concluded solo show ‘Men of Steel’

07/06/2026

Thank you Quddus Mirza for your review of the recently concluded exhibition ‘Men of Steel’ by Casim Mahmood.

Casim Mahmood transforms everyday industrial material into a meditation on endurance

06/06/2026

Get ‘em before they’re gone. Last 6 editions each of Mickey & Bunny by left (from an edition of 65 each), relief etching from 1 plate printed on Montval 300 gsm, 14 x 11 inches, 2025

06/06/2026

Thank you & City News 021 for the coverage. Wars & Roses by continues until June 11.

05/06/2026

The Gentle Weight of Desire, 2026 (oil on linen, 70x48 inches) by is a true masterpiece. We’re delighted that it’s found a place in a lovely home.

04/06/2026

‘Wars & Roses’ a solo presentation by Sheema Khan continues until 11 June 2026.

Sheema Khan (b.1982) is a Karachi based visual artist. She holds a Master’s degree in History (2020) and a distinction in Miniature Painting (2005) from Karachi University. Sheema has participated in more than 50 group exhibitions in UK, UAE, Canada, Switzerland, Iran, Singapore, USA and Pakistan. She is the recipient of Faiz Art Prize (2011). Art critics have termed her work as innovative with a twist on the past. Her practice is based on traditional miniature with a fusion of contemporary socio-political issues.

Artist Statement: In my recent practice, I explore the tension between beauty and brutality through the fusion of historical miniature imagery and delicate floral interventions. ‘Wars and Roses’ revisits scenes of conflict, conquest, and violence derived from South Asian miniature traditions, recontextualizing them within ornamental botanical spaces that evoke both fragility and allure. Through juxtaposition, I merge the visual language of wars with the symbolism of roses which are traditionally associated with beauty, romance, and serenity. This contrast functions as a metaphor for contemporary society, where violence is often aestheticized, concealed, or normalized beneath visually appealing surfaces. My work combines intricate floral cut-outs and layered compositions to construct a dialogue between destruction and decoration. The floral motifs alongside fragmented battle scenes create a psychological and metaphorical space where memory, emotion, and spectacle co-exist. By revisiting historical narratives and positioning them within contemporary socio-political contexts, I question how images of conflict continue to shape collective consciousness. ‘Wars and Roses’ becomes both an elegy and a critique, reflecting on the persistence of violence embedded within systems of beauty, power, and cultural spectacle.