KARACHI: The three-day International Public Art Festival-2019 (IPAF-19) will be held at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) building from March 1, organisers told a press conference on Monday.

Well-known gallerist and internationally appreciated expert on Pakistani art Sameera Raja, who is also involved with the project as one of its curators, said that enjoying art was the right of every citizen, just like education was the right of every child.

“Art gives a platform, a common ground to see things and think and reflect,” she said.

Ambareen Kazim-Thompson of I Am Karachi (IAK), the main organisers of IPAF, said that the art festival was going to be open to the common person as they strongly felt that there was a shortage of public art opportunities for all.

IAK president Amin Hashwani said that they were a civil society initiative looking to reclaim public spaces, change public discourse and bring like-minded people together.

“Art and culture is a key component in changing society’s mindset since Renaissance times,” he said, adding that he was thankful to the KPT chairman for his full support in their current venture.

Jameel Yusuf, the chairman of IPAF, reminded of IAK’s earlier work such as the painting of walls on M.T. Khan Road.

“Earlier, you would see hate speech and wall-chalking everywhere but after IAK’s initiative everyone started cleaning the hate speech from their walls,” he said.

“This is the effect of goodness and art,” he said, adding that they chose KPT for IPAF after their allowing them to work on the KPT building facade, the Custom House, General Shipping Agencies building, Jinnah Bridge pillars, etc.

“There are also the Timeline of Karachi and more IAK installations including the Vertical Gardens, which are playing their part in changing the mindset of people here through art,” he said.

Famous artist and sculptor Amin Gulgee, another IPAF curator, said that the festival would bring together over 50 Pakistani and international artists, who will be showcasing their works. “And since art is not meant to be just for the rich, entry at the festival is free.”

KPT chairman Jamil Akhtar said that he was indebted to the Maritime Affairs Minister Syed Ali Zaidi for his support in the project.

“Positive events in Karachi have become scarce and in this scenario we are glad to be joining hands with IAK and specially Jameel Yusuf whose contribution and efforts bringing a positive change to the face of Karachi [are] known to all. Amin Hashwani and his efforts of reviving the positive activities in this city are also appreciated,” he said.

“The KPT has a special significance as it contributes a major part of the nation’s economy. And thanks to guidance from the minister for maritime affairs we are trying to do more for the betterment of Karachi such as helping with its issues of traffic congestion, and reviving commercial, business and art activities here,” he said.

“My own vision for the KPT jurisdiction area is to present it as a clean and beautiful model for others to follow, and where people would want to visit,” he said. “I have several plans for it to happen which I will be disclosing soon,” he added.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2019