ISLAMABAD: The Asian Study Group hosted its opening event 2026-27 at Serena Hotel, featuring a multimedia presentation: ‘A window into contemporary Pakistani art’ by Dr Arjumand Faisel, a medical doctor by profession and founder of Gallery 6 in Islamabad.

Perveen Malik, President of ASG, welcomed the audience, saying: “The ASG came into being in 1973 and tonight we celebrate our 53rd year in Islamabad. We are a voluntary organisation that aims to create an awareness and appreciation of the arts and crafts, customs and cultures of the Asian Region in general, and Pakistan, in particular.”

The Asian Study Group runs a variety of activities and workshops, ranging from art and culture, gardening and trips, to cycling and hiking, as well as cuisines of the world, archaeology, photography and others. Every year, an opening event gives Islamabad society an opportunity to join the ASG, learn about recent events and those planned for the coming month.

Taking a moment to appreciate the goodwill of the community, Ms Malik thanked all the organisations, institutions, outlets and individuals that support the programmes through the course of each year. She added: “The ASG Committee is composed of professionals who volunteer their time to organise these diverse programmes for you and we are honoured and privileged to have H.E. Jane Marriott, the British High Commissioner, as the ASG Patron.”

Ms Marriott presented awards to the winners of the ASG annual photographic calendar competition: Ahtasham Ali Raja, Jawwad Zaki, and Akhlaqur Rehman, whose winning photographs are featured in the limited edition ASG Calendar 2027, saying: “Creative competitions such as this are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the talent and imagination within the ASG community.”

The British high commissioner said: “Pakistan has an extraordinarily rich and diverse artistic tradition, and contemporary art gives us a fascinating window into how artists are exploring identity, culture, tradition and change today. It is a pleasure to open the Asian Study Group’s 2026–27 programme with a celebration of Pakistani creativity, and of the cultural exchange and discovery that the Asian Study Group does so much to encourage.”

She said Dr Faisel’s close interaction with some of Pakistan’s leading painters inspired a deep and lasting involvement in the world of art. He has curated around 150 exhibitions, both nationally and internationally, including exhibitions in the United States, India and Australia. She said: “His multimedia presentation will take us on a visual journey through the ideas, concerns and creative voices shaping contemporary Pakistani art, including the varied ways artists respond to identity, society, culture, tradition and our changing world.”

Dr Faisel took the opportunity to showcase the immense breadth and diversity present in Pakistani Art – choosing thirty-some artists whose work differed thematically and in media. He examined the variances in themes, material, execution and style. From traditional sculptures to classic miniatures, diptychs to murals, Pakistani art has evolved to encapsulate a wide range of materials, exploring themes and concepts that have evolved with the complexity of modern life and the constancy of social change.

Dr Faisel, discussing his presentation, said: “A peep through the small window that I opened today into the world of Pakistani contemporary art has, hopefully, revealed to the audience how vibrant contemporary Pakistani art is. It has a rich variety of ideas, expressed through figures, symbols, forms and imagination; creative explorations of diverse mediums and materials; and exceptional execution, composition and artistic vision. Together, they create works of remarkable originality, quality and international resonance.”

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2026