The Pakistan National Council of the Arts in partnership with Nomad Gallery is presenting Sindhu Sur, a curated exhibition by Nageen Hyat that explores Sindh’s cultural and artistic legacy through contemporary works. The show brings together recent graduates and faculty associated with the VM Centre for Traditional Arts, Karachi, alongside Muzammil H. Chandio, a graduate of the National College of Arts, Lahore, who collectively reinterpret Ajrak patterns, rally designs, Makli structures and the sacred geometry of Thatta.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Senator Rubina Rauf, and attendees included the Ambassador of Portugal to Pakistan, Frederico Silva, Ms Nicole Guihot from the Australian High Commission, curator Nageen Hyat and Mariam Ahmed, Director Visual Arts Division at PNCA. Their presence underlined the cross-cultural and institutional support for reviving regional art practices and creating dialogue through visual storytelling.
Participating artists include Shahzad Zar, Ayman Babar, Mehrin Haseeb, Mahnoor Fatima, Munazza Khan, Aniqa Fatima, Hina Muhammad, Ambreen Shah and Muzammil H. Chandio. These artists employ illumination, geometry and traditional visual languages to produce layered compositions where colour, form and symbolic motifs reflect Sindhi hospitality and spiritual heritage.
Nageen Hyat said, “It gives me great pleasure to conceptualize and curate Sindhu Sur – Melody of Sindhu, highlighting the rich culture of Sindh through the visual medium of illumination and contemporary art.” Mariam Ahmed added that PNCA remains committed to platforms that celebrate cultural diversity and empower creative voices across Pakistan, noting how the exhibition demonstrates the coexistence of tradition and innovation.
Sindhu Sur showcases work that revives local artisanal skills while reinterpreting them for contemporary audiences, reinforcing the ongoing dialogue between craft and creative expression. The exhibition is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm and will continue until 30 October, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the layered visual identity of Sindh in Islamabad.
