The Karachi Biennale Trust (KBT) has announced the cancellation of its fifth annual Karachi Biennale. The KBT cited regional conflict and logistical challenges as the reasons behind their decision.
Originally scheduled for January 16 through January 31 of next year, the biennale would have brought artists and collectors to Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan. In a statement posted to Instagram, the KBT said that the biennale was canceled “on account of the war conditions prevailing in the region and the resultant logistical constraints and incertitude.” The KBT added that it was “deeply grateful to artists, sponsors, partners, collaborators and well wishers,” for their support.
In an interview with Hyperallergic, Noor Ahmed, the biennale’s curator, shared that for the past thirteen months she and three co-curators have collaborated with over one hundred artists and practices. The theme of the biennale’s fifth iteration was “Kal” (Yesterday/Tomorrow). According to Ahmed, the biennale would have explored work with themes of return and optimism.
“A big part of my role and time as curator was spent creating avenues for sustained relationships between Pakistan and the international art world,” said Ahmed. “In my view, during a time of stated war and unrest, art becomes all the more powerful.”