KARACHI: The 23rd day of the World Culture Festival featured a talk session, fine art workshops, film screenings and a theatre play by renowned director Khaled Anam.

The play, The Transposed Heads, featured Mr Anam, Umaid Riaz, Ayesha Sheikh and Hina Riaz.

The play portrayed the destructive conflict between the mind and body, as well as the impossible demands of love that lie beyond human control.

The actors won the audience’s hearts with their exceptional performances.

Earlier, the day began with a session titled ‘Voices of Change: How Modernity is Affecting Art’, featuring Aglaia Perraki and Sofia Maria (Greece), Erica Lauren Wise (USA), Adjaratou Mariam (Burkina Faso), and Chaddota Idda (Kenya).

Aglaia Perraki shared that she has always supported children in pursuing art on their own choice. Although language barriers exist, she is delighted that people here appreciate her work.

Kenyan artist Chaddota Idda said that one must believe in oneself. “I have never won an award, but my work, my art, is my identity. My theatre mostly focuses on violence against women.”

Erica Lauren Wise said that cooperation among artists is essential because each person has something to learn from another.

Adjaratou Mariam of Burkina Faso said that she never considered the lack of English a barrier. “My work speaks for me, and with whatever English I know, I try to express myself. My paintings are, in fact, myself. I mostly work on themes related to women, children, motherhood, and lived experiences. Whatever I have felt in life, the child within me comes out through my paintings to tell its story.”

A fine art workshop was conducted by Greek artists Sofia Maria Xenaki and Aglaia Perraki, who taught Arts Council students important techniques of painting.

At the screening of his film Paray Hut Love, director Asim Raza said that the Pakistani film industry suffered a major setback after Covid-19, and organising a festival of this scale in Karachi was a great achievement.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2025