Islamabad, October 28, 2025 — The Pakistan National Council of the Arts hosted the first-ever exhibition in Pakistan of Sadequain’s 1964 lithographs inspired by Albert Camus’ novel The Stranger. Organized by Gallery 21 and the SADEQUAIN Foundation, the collection opened at PNCA and attracted a wide cultural audience.
The launch was inaugurated by Nicolas Galey, Ambassador of France to Pakistan, with Iram Rehman, President of Alliance Française d’Islamabad, serving as guest of honor. Their presence highlighted the cross-cultural dialogue between French literature and Pakistani art.
The Sadequain lithographs offer a rare visual conversation with Camus’ existential themes, and their debut in Islamabad represents an important cultural moment for local institutions and audiences. Gallery 21 and the SADEQUAIN Foundation curated the display to underscore Sadequain’s distinctive response to the novel.
Artists, writers, diplomats and cultural enthusiasts gathered for the opening, reflecting strong local interest in international collaborations that link literature and visual art. The exhibition reunites creative currents from Paris and Pakistan six decades after the works were made.
By bringing these lithographs to PNCA, organizers provided Pakistani visitors a valuable opportunity to engage directly with a pivotal chapter of Sadequain’s work and with the broader story of how global literary themes resonate in national artistic practice.
