ISLAMABAD: The five winners of the third and final edition of the We the Peoples, We the Arts 2019 competition were announced at an awards ceremony hosted by the Embassy of Switzerland at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) on Thursday.

Students aged 18 and above, enrolled in accredited Pakistani colleges and universities, had submitted 221 works of art highlighting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a variety of media. Five winners were chosen from the 34 shortlisted finalists.

The winners were Sayera Anwar, a student of Beaconhouse National University, Raffia Azher from Kinnaird College for Women, Athar Raza, currently studying at the Institute for Art and Culture, Lahore, Qiraat Soomro, a student of the National College of Arts (NCA), and Lahore’s Ali Arshad, currently studying at Beaconhouse National University.

The jury also commended Lahore’s Bismah Hayat, studying at NCA and Bahawalpur’s Yumna Qamar, who is studying at Islamia University Bahawalpur. The winners and finalists were awarded cash prizes, certificates and other gifts.

Athar Raza’s work addressed SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, through monochromatic graphite on craft paper. Hailing from Quetta, his work is a cow scar on a human being.

He uses the symbol of a cow as they are placid creatures, calm and peaceful like a man who sees bloodshed while wanting peace. Humans live and survive in a city and country where humans are killed like cattle.

Raffia Azher tackled SDG 15 which is about ‘Life on Land’, through an unusual mixed media wooden sculpture with pictures of construction and people in graphite and varnish. Her work revolves around deforestation, logging and the irreversible damaging effects of industrialisation and urban development.

Qiraat Soomro used ink, charcoal, pastels and scavenged objects on canvas to engage with SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. Her work titled ‘Bins of Prosperity’ describes the fundamental role of organisation in society as the process of organising trash plays a significant part in a sustainable lifestyle.

Ali Arshad’s video carries the profound message that the banal and benign is easy to ignore in the context of SDG 5, which is gender equality.

The final jury comprised of Art Basel Hong Kong curator and Art Space, Sydney, director Alexie Glass-Kantor, PNCA Executive Director Amna Pataudi, Embassy of Switzerland Deputy Head of Mission Bernhard Furger, Director Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen director and Art Basel Unlimited Sector curator Giovanni Carmine, artist and educationist Hurmatul Ain, PNCA Director General Jamal Shah, principal partner at Sunderlande New York Priyanka Mathew, and renowned artist and educationist Salima Hashmi.

Mr Shah said: “This is a very meaningful platform that started about three years back. It is deservedly becoming one of the most important platforms for young artists in Pakistan. It encourages them to take part in something that is very creative and fruitful.

“I strongly believe that in art there is no competition and what is important is the spirit and participation. I congratulate all the artists who submitted their work. Art is the best means of communication which has the capacity to engage an individual intimately, inviting individuals to become informed decision-makers”.

Swiss Ambassador Thomas Kolly said: “Over the course of three editions, ‘We the Peoples We the Arts’ has become a recognisable brand and sustained a cohort of young artists from all over Pakistan. In return, the Embassy of Switzerland had the privilege of engaging with Pakistani artists, art institutions and their work. We built linkages that we will continue to nurture in the future as well.”

Alexie Glass-Kantor moderated a panel discussion preceding the award ceremony on the contemporary approaches to art in Pakistan, where some jury members shared their perspectives in the context of the We the Peoples, We the Arts competition.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2019