Niilofur Farrukh, Managing Trustee of Karachi Biennale Trust, has said that the Karachi Biennale 2019 (KB19) will bring together innovation, excellence and criticality through a multiplicity of curatorial strategies to showcase artists from Pakistan to the world as well as strengthen a regional art exchange.
Niilofur Farrukh, also CEO of KB19, in his welcoming remarks at the launch reception of KB19 held on Saturday at the residence of late Habib Fida Ali- KBT Patron, said the theme of KB19, to be held in October 2019, is ecology with emphasis on coastal ecology.
Artists from all over Pakistan and abroad will interpret the theme to start conversations on the urgency of environmental degradation. This theme had been inspired by the threat to Karachi's ecology manifested in the heat waves, water scarcity and pollution that the city dwellers face every day, she informed.
"KB19 is creating a first ever opportunity for Pakistani artists to engage with ecology on such a large scale. Their work will address the concerns and sensitize the audience," she said. KB19 would carry out an exchange with national and international platforms to introduce new knowledge to harness eco-friendly changes in everyday life, Niilofur added.
Special guest at the event Zohra Hussain Founder Director Chawkhandi Art spoke on the development of art scene in Karachi to which she has been an active participant for the last 40 years and said that Karachi Biennale is as an important addition. KB19's Curator Muhammad Zeeshan while giving a presentation on KB19 said that Karachi Biennale had declared itself a Green Biennale with the responsibility to minimize its carbon footprint by using eco-friendly material.
Chair of Prize Committee Bushra Hussain explained the five KB19 prizes being instituted for recognising outstanding contribution and encourage young artists. This includes; KB19 - Mahvash and Jehangir Siddiqui Juried Prize. This is an award given to the artist with the best entry, judged by an international jury.
KB19-HM Habib Lifetime Achievement Award will be for an artist, art critic, art historian or art educator with an outstanding career that has contributed to the field for over four decades will be eligible for the prize. The visitors to KB19 will vote for KB19-Public Choice Art Prize via a specially designed Digital application. KB19-Peek Freans Emerging Artist, under which an artist under the age of 30 will be eligible for this prize. KB19-Langdon Malik Foundation Performance Art Award has been instituted to encourage the nascent field of Performative Art.