The historic NED University of Engineering & Technology, one of Karachi's architectural treasures and stands as a venue for the Karachi Bienn
The historic NED University of Engineering & Technology, one of Karachi’s architectural treasures and stands as a venue for the Karachi Biennale 2024 (KB24), NED’s Chimney Room and Lecture Hall now host a cluster of contemporary artworks, transforming these heritage spaces into a space embedded with global perspectives and Karachi’s layered histories. Constructed over a century ago, these heritage-protected buildings under the Sindh Cultural Preservation Act provide an ideal setting for converging art, culture, and critical discourse. This strategic choice by KB24 fosters an environment where art becomes a means to explore and celebrate Karachi’s cultural past while inviting reflections on urgent contemporary issues.
As part of KB24’s broader effort to create accessible, interconnected art clusters throughout Karachi, this venue makes a strong case for using historic landmarks as sites of modern expression and engagement. It is not only a physical space but also a bridge between the past and the present, reflecting on Karachi’s layered socio-cultural legacy while encouraging an awareness of today’s pressing ecological, social, and political concerns.
Anna Konik’s “A Song of Humble Beauty” grounds viewers in the experiences of marginalized artisans across the Sindh region, examining their lives and livelihoods as they confront challenges from climate change and neo-colonial economic policies. Her film portrays the resilience and interdependence within Karachi’s broader ecosystem—bridging the artisan spirit of Pakistan’s past with today’s environmental challenges.
Anna Konik’s A Song of Humble Beauty immerses viewers in the lives of marginalized artisans from Sindh, capturing their resilience as they face the impacts of climate change and neo-colonial economic pressures. Her film reflects the interwoven nature of Karachi’s ecosystem, linking Pakistan’s artisanal heritage with today’s environmental challenges.
Sadeqain Riaz’s installations “Water Spill” and “Nala” further expand on the theme of interdependence, inviting viewers to rethink Karachi’s intricate relationship with water. Using sensory elements like water and concrete, Riaz challenges conventional notions of purity and filth, examining the meanings created when natural and manmade elements converge in urban environments. These installations resonate with Karachi’s struggles with water scarcity, pollution, and access, aligning poignantly with NED’s roots as an institution focused on engineering and urban planning. The installations create a contemplative space within the Lecture Hall, juxtaposing the engineered materials of Karachi’s present with the natural processes that sustain it.
Lundahl and Seitl’s “River Biographies” brings a visceral performance element to the space, presenting rivers as sentient, interconnected entities vital to our shared ecosystem. Using Karachi’s riverine past as an anchoring theme, the neurodiverse duo engages audiences with an immersive experience that recasts rivers as more than just resources but as integral parts of human identity. Their performance transforms the Lecture Hall into a space where spectators and participants alike feel a profound kinship with the rivers that have long shaped Karachi’s urban fabric. By connecting local and global audiences to the concept of ecological stewardship, “River Biographies” reinforces a call for responsible engagement with our environment—one that transcends physical boundaries and engages with the emotional and ethical.
Qadir Jhatial’s installation, “Boat,” symbolizes survival and sustenance, echoing Karachi’s historical reliance on the Sindhu River for commerce, migration, and nourishment. The wooden boat set within a bed of sand becomes a quiet monument to the lives and journeys intertwined with Karachi’s waterways. This contemplative work nudges viewers to consider how images and symbols hold multiple layers of meaning, shifting with perspective and context. The Chimney Room provides a fitting contrast to the stark simplicity of Jhatial’s installation, allowing the viewer to experience this symbol of survival within the framework of a city built on resilience and adaptation.
In bringing together these diverse works, NED University’s heritage spaces play an active role in shaping Karachi Biennale 2024’s themes of ecological and social resilience. These installations, performances, and films do not just inhabit a historic space—they engage with it, drawing upon NED’s legacy as an engineering and cultural institution to underscore the urgency of rethinking our collective future. Through KB24, the university becomes a dynamic setting for critical inquiry and dialogue, encouraging viewers to reflect on Karachi’s past, present, and potential futures.
