LAHORE: This year marks the sixth anniversary of the Lahore Digital Arts Festival (LDF), a platform that has redefined the role of digital creativity in Pakistan. Founded in 2019 by digital futurist Najam Ul Assar, LDF has become a beacon for artists working at the intersection of technology, culture and social impact.

Originally conceived after a collaboration with visual artist Omar Gilani on the project Pakistan+: A Journey Through the Future, Najam recognized a stark absence of digital arts infrastructure within Pakistan’s cultural industries. LDF was launched to fill that void — and it has since grown into a multi-format, international festival with exhibitions, artist residencies, research, and education at its core.

“There was talent everywhere, but no visibility or ecosystem to support digital artists,” says Najam, who is currently pursuing a PhD in digital arts at the University of British Columbia. “LDF began as a response to that gap — and it’s now become a movement.”

The festival has consistently introduced urgent global themes contextualized for Pakistani audiences. Its three flagship biannual themes — Post Reality, Metaverse Bodies, and Women vs Machines — have addressed critical conversations around identity, embodiment, gender, power, and digital truth.

In 2023, LDF hosted Pakistan’s largest digital arts gathering to date, welcoming over 25,000 visitors across nine venues in Lahore.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2025