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Karachi Biennale Trust Negotiates Fine Line, Pushes Envelop on EcologyIf art is about making a statement then the KB19 met the requirements in full, punching way above its slender weight in more ways than one. Freedom of expression got dissected in no uncertain terms at the Frere Hall, and the emotional wellbeing of youth came under intense focus at the NJV School. Bagh ibne Qasim and the Gandhi Gardens Zoo took art into the great outdoors, and TCS took art to 1 million destinations across the world in a high-tech augmented reality collaboration with Pakistan’s top tier artist Rashid Rana.

If the art installations and paintings on display may have taken a little getting used to, the discursive events brought together eminent experts from around the world to discuss threadbare that which ails human society in its interactions with Mother Nature.

Rashid Rana, Lahore based celebrity artist who won the Karachi Biennale 2019 Mahvish & Jahangir Siddiqui Juried Art Prize, and engaged with TCS in an exploration of Augmented Reality featuring a Smartphone App through which one could view 6 of his masterpieces in three dimensional form with 1 million impressions of them printed on 200,000 TCS Express Boxes and 800,000 TCS Envelopes in 3 sizes each. It was a pioneering venture that took art out of the Art Gallery and quite literally put it on the road to people worldwide to great public acclaim.

The compliments came thick and fast as Karachi’s notables gathered by the Chinna Creek at the iconic palm fronded Beach Luxury Hotel for the KB19 Closing Ceremony, expressed their delight and amazement as TCS staff helped them view the augmented reality magic on TCS Express Boxes and Envelopes.

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2ndKarachi Biennale 2019

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KUDOS!“I had a dream of taking art to the public where people could imbibe art in their normal routine. I am eternally grateful to TCS for providing a mobile canvas for which Rashid Rana prepared a special series of six artistic works using augmented reality, ensuring that the sender and receiver of the package or envelope will interact with art at the subconscious or conscious levels. That interaction is very important for me. Its outreach is indeterminate. We don’t know whose house or office in the world it will show up at”

– Mohammed Zeeshan, Curator, KB19

“It is such an amazing idea that I have never heard of before! Using your boxes and envelopes to spread art to the people. This is important, to get art to the ordinary people. Thanks a lot for this” – Stefan Winkler, Director, Goethe-Institut (German Cultural Center).

“It is great to see digital technology democratize the way in which the audience and public can experience art. It is a fantastic initiative and I am really looking forward to downloading the App and experiencing it”

– Chantal Harrison-Lee, Director Arts, British Council

“This integration of art with technology is a great idea, and it’s very heartening to see the corporate sector lend its support to art in such an innovative way”– Farhan Qureshi, Art TV.

“It’s an excellent service to the general public who is not acquainted with these paintings and do not know who is the painter. TCS has done a great service to art and deserves congratulations for this initiative”– Salman Faruqui, Former Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan

“This is brilliant! Fantastic! We are all trying to take art to the public, and these TCS boxes and envelopes are doing exactly that! TCS is taking Pakistani art all across the globe. Congratulations to the Curator Zeeshan for thinking up this project, and congratulations to TCS!”– Fawzia Naqvi,Managing Editor, ArtNOW magazine.

“I have just experienced the Rashid Rana artwork on the TCS boxes and I think it is a brilliant way to spread his beautiful work and make it accessible to people. The use of technology with art and the intersection of the two are really very interesting in this case”– Ella Hussain of Dawn TV.

“Technology is disrupting everything and art is not an exception. Rashid Rana is one of my favorite artists and not only in Pakistan but around the world. I’m a huge big fan of his and he is also a good friend. I am so delighted to see this and how the images are enhanced using technology. It’s just incredible. The fact that TCS is doing this to promote art and Pakistani artists, you should be very proud and God bless you all. Every single person should be art aware and this is going to help do that. Thank you”– Farhan Faruque,Managing Director ANZ Grindlays, based in Hong Kong.


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“It’s amazing and creates curiosity inside us. Mind-blowing! Wishing you guys all the best. Good job TCS!”– Shireen Akhtar, Presenter FM105

“It is a fabulous initiative! TCS touches every Pakistani and TCS has enabled us at the Karachi Biennale Trust to realize our ambition of taking art to the public. Hats off to TCS!”– Ainee Shahzad, Principal, Habib Public School.

Rana is a recipient of the prestigious 2017 Asia Art Award, and was awarded International Artist of the Year by SAVAC Canada in 2003.

Rashid Rana was born in Lahore in 1968. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan in 1992, and a Master of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, Massachusetts, US in 1994. He is the head of the Fine Art department and one of the founding faculty members of the School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD), Beaconhouse National University, Lahore. Rana is one of the most prominent artists of his generation in Pakistan, and has been included in numerous exhibitions in Pakistan and abroad. He has worked over the past 15 years in a variety of mediums: abstractions on canvas, collaborations with a billboard painter, photographic/video performances, collages using found material, photo mosaics, photo sculptures, and large stainless steel works.

Rana has emerged as a leading name among the young-generation artists on the contemporary art scene. He is known to develop a conceptually driven, well-informed art practice, which maintains a pixelated attention to formal concerns. His works revolve around a subtle simultaneous exploration of media and identity – both bound by a sharp political edge as he satirizes pop culture and looks to reinterpret varied elements of art and cultural history. His new media projects are a visual commentary and parody of socio-political scenarios.

"The Rashid Rana art project of KB19 has been taking art to the homes and offices of countless people in the country and overseas since October 2019. It’s concept reflects the vision of Karachi Biennale to build public audiences for art . We are delighted that TCS not only understood the importance of this project but has supported it with enthusiasm. My special thanks to Saadia Awan and her team , and Rashid Rana for making this groundbreaking art project possible for Karachi Biennale- Niilofur Farrukh,CEO KB19, Managing Trustee Karachi Biennale Trust"

“It is really amazing and I am seeing it for the first time in my life. Art plus technology is a wonderful thing! I am thankful to TCS for such an amazing initiative, and I will download the App and share it with my family and friends”– Dr. Saifur Rehman, Commissioner, Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).

“I am very impressed with the way you’ve gone about it and this is certainly the way to get art to the public and make it aware. It’s a novel idea, and best of luck to TCS in its venture!” – Ambreen Qureshi, Art Teacher, Convent of Jesus & Mary’s, St. Joseph’s Convent & Nixor College.

"The juries, artists, curators and critics from overseas and Pakistan were impressed with the originality and range of ideas displayed in KB19 art works. The TCS Project contributed significantly to that compliment"– Almas Bana,Chairperson, Karachi Biennale Trust.

RASHIDRANA

ABOUT


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FLIGHT INTERRUPTED:Eco-leaks from the Invasion DeskKB19 Second Karachi Biennale ran for seventeen days, from 26th October to 12th November 2019 at seven historic and iconic venues across Karachi.

The 400,000 visitors who attended it were enthralled by the diversity of art offered by 98 artists. The work included installations, paintings, audio, video, new media and performative works that were offered free to all visitors.The theme of KB19, the second iteration of Karachi Biennale, was Flight Interrupted: Eco-leaks from the Invasion Desk that brought into discussion the

extinction of low flying birds in Karachi as a symbol of the threatened eco-system. Eco-leaks referred to the new knowledge that each artist added from their own location. The KB19 was curated by Muhammad Zeeshan.

INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATIONThe international art community participated with thirty six artists from eighteen countries; and scholars from Canada, Germany, Sri Lanka and Pakistan shared their research on art

and sustainability at the discursive forum. KB19 also welcomed artists, curators and heads of major international institutions who experienced the largest contemporary art event of Pakistan.

WORKS OF INNOVATIVE EXCELLENCE AWARDEDKB19 awarded 4 prizes to artists who exhibited works of innovative excellence. This year, The Lifetime

Condensed from theKB19 Second Karachi Biennale

Newsletter ROUNDUP, a brilliantjournalistic e-composition that

qualifies as an exceptional workof art in its own right. Bravo!

Comprehensive Summary


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IMPRESSIONS DELIVERED WORLDWIDE!

Achievement Award was established to recognize exceptional contribution to art in Pakistan. The winners were selected by a jury of distinguished art professionals from Pakistan and abroad.

KB19 Mahvash and Jahangir Siddiqui Foundation Juried Art Prize was awarded to Lahore based artist, Rashid Rana. The jury members; Ingo Arend, Amna Naqvi, and Stephen Welsh selected his installation Beauty Lies for the honor. The trophy designed to represent the theme of KB19 was created in wood and brass by Asad Hussain.

KB19 H.M. Habib Lifetime Achievement Award went to Akram Dost Baloch for his exceptional work as an artist and art educator working out of Quetta. The winner was selected by Niilofur Farrukh, Nada Raza, and Aasim Akhtar. The bronze trophy was created by Amin Gulgee.

KB19 Peek Freans Emerging Artist Prize was awarded to Arsalan Nasir who won a commission to realize his interactive project titled In Karachi Live Birds Who Fly From Trees. This was declared the winner out of over a 100 submissions from small and big towns of Pakistan. The jury for the Prize were: Muhammad Zeeshan, Waheeda Baloch, and Adeel Uz Zafar. The medallion was conceptualized and created by UK based Iranian artist Mohsen Keiany.

KB19 Shahneela and Farhan Faruqui Popular Choice Art Prize was selected through public votes cast via KB19 Visitors App. The recipient of the

maximum number of votes was Imran Hunzai based in Islamabad. Ceramic artist, Salman Ikram, was commissioned to create the trophy.

KB19 Langdon-Malik Foundation Performance Art Prize is one of a few prizes in the world dedicated to this genre that honors Performative Art practice. The work of Swiss artist Victorine Mueller's Timeline was selected by the jury members: Arjumand Rahim, Sheherazade Alam, and Amin Gulgee.

GREEN BIENNALEKarachi Biennale Trust initiated its long term research and practical project to become a Green Biennale. The first phase was completed during KB19. Swiss architect Nele Dechmann, Khadija-tul-Kubra, Moyena Niazi and Fariha Ubaid facilitated the project with professional support. Nele Dechmann’s presentation Altering Logical Systems - A Spatial Exploration through Architectural and Curatorial Practices followed by presentations on Case Studies in Spatial Sustainable Design by Pakistani architects Shahid Khan, Khadija-tul Kubra and Ahmed Mian led

to an examination of eco-friendly design practices.

ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUESIn the summer of 2019, students of NED Engineering University and Department of Visual Studies, University of Karachi carried out a two month research on locally available eco-friendly materials and techniques. The project also engaged architecture students from NED University, Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, and Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in a sustainable design workshop to create a toolkit for KB19 exhibition design. This toolkit will continue to be expanded with research and practical strategies to re-purpose, recycle and reduce wastage during large scale temporary events to lower their carbon footprint.

During KB19, sustainable design toolkit was tested with bamboo signage architecture. This initiative was supported by Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia; with Design Options, NED University, and NJV School as local partners.

ART AWARENESS IN SCHOOLSThe KB19 Educational Program for the Karachi Biennale 2019 took its cue from the curatorial theme of environmental concerns. It focused on generating an awareness of art as a creative social intervention during the 30 workshops held at schools across the city from August to October 2019.

The Jungle Book workshops brought students, parents and grandparents together to map tangible changes due to rampant urbanization. The students created engaging maps of different parts of the city.

The other workshops focused on helping students to understand contemporary art and addressed questions like, what is Art? Why do we do it? This expanded the conversation around art and prepared them to experience KB19. As a part of guided tours program for school children, hundreds of students visited the Karachi Zoo, Bagh Ibne Qasim and Alliance Francaise.

The KB19 Education Program was generously supported by TPL Holding.

KEYNOTE TALKSKB19 Karachi Biennale Keynote Talks are a part of Karachi Biennale’s Critical Knowledge Lab which focuses on knowledge production and its documentation.

At KB19, four speakers from four different geographical locations shared their research on art, ecology, culture, and history.

Dr. Sacha Kagan presented his seminal research on art and sustainability while foregrounding wetlands to connect to the local context..

Asma Mahmood, an artist and a curator based in Canada spoke on the connections of contemporary art with traditional ecological wisdom of the First Nations of Canada.

The ongoing project on the

transformation of Karachi Zoo and mapping the city’s forgotten heritage sites was foregrounded by Zain Mustafa.

Mariah Lookman shared her seminal research on the art and life of Pakistan’s eminent sculptor Shahid Sajjad. Central to the paper was his lifelong inspiration from the natural environment and the tradition of sustainable practices.

The KB19 Keynote Talks were supported by Getz Pharma and hosted at JS Auditorium IBA, City Campus.

KB19-GEMAH WORKSHOP ON ART & EMOTIONAL WELLBEING FOR YOUTHTo create a synergy between art and emotional wellbeing GEMAH was invited to host a workshop during KB19. GEM (Giving Emotions Meaning), an organisation based in Australia, conducted a two-day workshop for youth at the NJV School Campus. The GEMAH immersive workshop delivered by a multicultural group of local and international artists and musicians employed art as a vehicle towards emotional well-being.


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Publication of the Marketing &Public Affairs Division, TCS.

Vol. 19, Issue 1, 2020

Editorial Board

Resilience PersonifiedEDITORIALA PICTURE’S WORTH 1000 WORDS (maybe more)The cutting edge of Karachi, indeed Pakistan, did not let this Nation down in its hour of extreme need, providing critical relief to stressed-out souls crowded onto the back-foot, with hit-wicket a clear and present danger, in their daily grind to keep body and soul together.

The KB19 Second Karachi Biennale ran for seventeen days, from 26th October to 12th November 2019, at seven historic and iconic venues across Karachi, and the 400,000 visitors who attended it were enthralled by the diversity of art offered by 98 artists.

The work included installations, paintings, audio, video, new media and performative works that were offered free to all visitors. The theme of KB19, the second iteration of Karachi Biennale, was Flight Interrupted: Eco-leaks from the Invasion Desk that brought into discussion the extinction of low flying birds in Karachi as a symbol of the threatened eco-system. Eco-leaks referred to the new knowledge that each artist added from their own location. The KB19 was curated by Muhammad Zeeshan.

We at TCS CONNECT have begun the new Decade with a wholesale reinvention of our form, if not our substance. This edition (Volume 19 Issue 1, 2020) is the second digital version, the first having come out late last year as the Summer/Autumn Issue 2019 (Volume 18 Issue 1). Needless to say this step has further fortified our core as an environment-friendly platform committed to the saving of paper and the planting of trees, and exhibiting an urgent concern for the newer generations for whom we hold Planet Earth in trust.

From an operational perspective this has been a fantastic move that perhaps should have come a lot earlier given its phenomenal impact upon outreach and

considerable savings in the cost of production and distribution.

On the editorial front another reinvention promises to add considerable value to our proposition. We have drastically cut down on our content and

made each edition a single issue magazine, with each issue a cover story. Even as we throttle back on the

content, taking TCS CONNECT from 42 pages to no more than 12 pages, we are throttling up its frequency from

Quarterly to Fortnightly. Howwwzzzzaaattttt!!??

Less is indeed more, and doing more with less is a leading core value at TCS, fully aligned with the global demand for the optimum utilization

of scarce resources that promise to get scarcer before they become more abundant, Inshallah.

Thank you for sparing the time to take a peek at our offering.

PATRONSKhalid N. Awan

Chairman

Saira Awan MalikVice Chairman & Group CEO

Editor/CorrespondentAdil Ahmad

Assistant Editor/CorrespondentAnadil Bashir PharmD

Designer/Manager Creative ServicesSyed Nabi Muhammad (Asif)

AdvisorJamil Janjua

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