Is ‘Contemporary’ a fixated state or constantly challenged by “Asli” in a movement?
Looking at the historical accounts or based on mere ignorance, some may mistakenly associate certain fixations around the term contemporary and assume that it is a movement
or a practice which is common to today’s era.
The mere significance of Asli is the position in which norms are challenged and it steers away from being a fixated contemporary state.
Natalie Heinich, a notable French researcher associates Duchamp’s Fountain (1910) with the contemporary art practice. She makes a clear distinction between Modern Art which challenges the conventions of representation, and the Contemporary Art which challenges the very notion of an artwork.
Clearly Contemporary Art goes beyond its literal meaning (Art that occurs/happens in the current time or Art of today) that is generally associated with it. Because not every art which is being produced in the same time can be called contemporary art. It can significantly be identified on the basis of its vigorous amalgamation of resources, processes, ideas and issues that challenge the previous understandings and fixations. It defies the orthodox organizing values, systems or -isms.
Asli is the new form that would challenge a current state and methodologies in our practices. It is Asli that is evolving and takes a new form and position.
Asli Contemporary art lives to remain ever changing and new!
Mahnoor Ali Shah
Mahnoor Ali Shah, born in 1998 is a Visual artist, Graduated from the National College of Arts with a Distinction in Sculpture and a diploma in Ceramics from the Azerbaijan State
Haider Ali
Haider Ali graduated in 2023 from National College of Arts, Lahore with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Miniature. Currently he is working as a visual artist promoting his skills and thought process that encourage to acknowledge his creativity. The artist currently lives and works in Lahore.
Sabir Abro
Born in 1999 in Shikarpur, Sabir currently works and lives in Lahore. He graduated from National Collage of Arts, Lahore and did his Bachelors of Fine Arts in painting. He has exhibited his works at Alhamra arts council and did a group show at Tagheer gallery, Lahore.
Jawad Ahmed Jan
Muhammad Jawad Jan was born in 2000 in Lyari, Karachi, Pakistan. Being the son of a respected artist, Jawad developed his interest in making an art career at an early age and
started painting at the age of 10. In 2018, he was awarded scholarship and was graduated as a fine artist from ACIAC, Arts Council of Pakistan in 2022. He exhibited his works at VM Art gallery (2022) and Sambara Art gallery (2022). He is working with Mr. Shahid Rassam at his art studio, ‘Rassam Studio’s’ since 2017.
Saadia Batool
Saadia Batool was born in 1998 in Quetta, Pakistan. She graduated with a distinction in Fine Arts from the National College of Art Lahore in 2023. Her practice includes painting,
Arghawan Hatif
Arghawan Hatif, born in 1997, is a visual artist who did her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts with a distinction, from National College of Arts, Lahore in 2023. She majored in Miniature but
also specialises in oil painting, print making and sculpture. She started learning the basics from her father Ustad Hatif since her childhood. Arghawan has been a part of Dubai expo 2020 project as an assisting artist. She participated in many group exhibitions in Quetta and Lahore. She exhibited her work at Alhamra young artist exhibition. She has been rewarded “Gold medal/Excellence Award” in painting competitions among several universities of Balochistan (2017). She is currently pursuing her career and practicing as an emerging artist.
Amina Jameel
Born in Abbottabad in 2000,Amina Jameel is a miniature Artist based in Lahore Pakistan. She graduated in 2023 with an honors in Fine Arts from the National College of Arts, Lahore. Jameel was part of the first Itihas Journal, India 2021 as well as Fresco Panels team for the Pakistan Pavilion, Dubai Expo. Her work was recently exhibited in Alhamra Art Council.
Noman Khan
Noman was born and raised in Quetta. He decided to become a fine artist due to the lack of foundation of artistic integrity in Balochi society. In order to pursue a career in art, he
dropped out of law school because he believed that art is the one thing that can bring humanity together. His artistic process has equipped him with an increased sense of empathy for those who hide behind comouflage and seek to deliver that some through his art. He did his BFA in Painting from National College of Arts, Lahore, in 2023. The artist currently lives and works in Lahore.
Mahrukh Khizer
Born in Lahore on 12th August 1999, Mahrukh Khizar is a Lahore-based artist who graduated with a distinction from the National College of Arts Lahore in 2023. With a major in
Fatima Kaleem
Fatima Kaleem, born in 1999, is a Lahore-based visual artist. She graduated with Honours from the National College of Arts, Lahore with a BFA in 2023 majoring in printmaking.
Working primarily in printmaking media, her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. She was a part of the Print Pals portfolio project, a collaborative printmaking volume, between the National College of Arts, Lahore and the Slade School of Fine Art, London in 2021 and recently exhibited at Tagheer Lahore. The artists currently lives and works in Lahore.
Salar Marri
Salar graduated from the National College of Arts, Lahore in 2023. He did his BFA in painting. His work revolves around paint application and color application, where he explores
themes of isolation and solitude. His work is primarily based on figures, usually a single figure in an isolated space. He uses light and shadows in his work to create dramatic effects which further makes the work look uneasy. Salar has exhibited his work in Red TAG Art Forum (2023), Tagheer Art gallery, Lahore (2023), Gallery Full Circle, Karachi (2023) and Alhamra Arts Council (2022 and 2021). He currently works and resides in Lahore.
Duaa Nosheen
Duaa Nosheen was born in 1999, in Quetta, Pakistan. She graduated from the National College of Arts, Lahore, where she did her Bachelors in Fine Arts painting (2023). She
started painting at the age of 10. In 2018, he was awarded scholarship and was graduated as a fine artist from ACIAC, Arts Council of Pakistan in 2022. He exhibited his works at VM Art gallery (2022) and Sambara Art gallery (2022). He is working with Mr. Shahid Rassam at his art studio, ‘Rassam Studio’s’ since 2017.
Maha Omer
Born in 1999 in Lahore, Pakistan, Maha Omer trained at the National College of Arts in Lahore. She received her BFA in Miniature Painting with Honors, in 2023. Currently residing and working as a practicing artist in Lahore, Omer has recently exhibited her work at the National College of Arts (2023), Tagheer Art Gallery (2023) and the Alhamra Art Gallery (2023), Lahore.
Saad Qureshi
Born in 1997, Saad is a visual artist based in Lahore. He graduated in Fine Arts (Painting) from the National College of Arts in 2023. He exhibited his works in Tagheer Art Gallery (2023). The artist currently works and resides in Lahore.
Mohsin ur Rehman
Mohsin Ur Rehman Baig, born in 1997, is a visual artist based in Islamabad. He received a Distinction in Fine Arts from the National College of Art, Rawalpindi where he majored
in Miniature Painting with a minor in Printmaking and Photography. Mohsin’s work focuses on his quest to become more intimate with his body, overcome insecurities, and progress toward acceptance. The persistent negativity in his surroundings caused turmoil, which he depicts in his artworks. Mohsin expresses himself through miniature paintings, drawings and installations. He uses ballpoint pen and miniature techniques as his medium. His art has been exhibited in a number of group exhibitions at the PNCA, the Islamabad Press Club, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Islamabad Literary Festival 2023.
Moin Rehman
Born in 1993, Bahawalpur, the artist currently works and lives in Lahore. He graduated with distinction in Fine Arts from National College of Arts in 2023. He received Award of
Muhammad Raza
Born in 1993, in Quetta, Baluchistan Muhammad did his Bachelors from National College of Arts, Lahore, majoring in Indo-Persian Miniature Painting (2023). His work is a
Misha Sheikh
Misha Sheikh, born in 1999, is an emerging artist based in Lahore, Pakistan. She obtained her Bachelors in Fine Arts (Honors) from the National College of Arts, Lahore in 2023
and specializes in Miniature painting. She uses an interdisciplinary approach in her image-making; the influences in her work vary from traditional Mughal miniature visual vocabulary to modern graphic compositions. Sheikh has exhibited her work in the National College of Arts and Dominion Gallery, Lahore and was also a part of an online group show, through the Artcade Gallery. She has been awarded honors in her bachelors degree.
Saleena Shahid
Saleena Shahid (born 1992) is a visual artist who works and lives in Lahore, Pakistan. From a very young age she developed an understanding regarding arts as she belongs to
an artistic and literary family. She recently completed her Master of Visual Arts from National College of Arts (NCA) Lahore, Pakistan. She completed her bachelor’s in Fine Arts from University of the Punjab College of Art and Design in 2015. She taught miniature painting as a visiting lecturer at Punjab University College of Art and Design in 2016. Saleena has participated in several group shows in renowned galleries including VM Art Gallery, Mussawir Art Gallery, Full Circle Gallery, Artscene Gallery, Studio 46, Tagheer Art Gallery. Currently she is working on her projects for exhibition at her studio in Lahore.
Shehrbano
Shehrbano is a visual practitioner and contemporary miniaturist born in July 1998, in Lahore, Pakistan. She graduated from the prestigious National College of Arts with Honours in
indo-Persian miniature painting in 2023. Along with that she has a Bachelor’s (BA) degree in graphic design from Punjab University College of Arts and Design in 2019. She has been a part of multiple exhibitions and competitions including, Young Artist’s award at Alhamra in 2017 and Science and art exhibition of UET in 2018. Sherbano currently lives and works in Lahore.
Aman Toor
Aman Toor (born 1999) is a Visual Artist born and based in Pakistan. She graduated with a bachelors in Fine Arts, majoring in Printmaking from the National College of Arts, Lahore. The primary concern in Aman’s artworks is the process of repetition and overlapping to eventually uncover an intriguing visual. She currently lives and works in Lahore.
