ISLAMABAD: Satrang Gallery has inaugurated The Unfolding II, a group exhibition featuring the work of 40 emerging artists from across Pakistan.
Reflecting a wide range of artistic styles, media and regional backgrounds, the exhibition celebrates emerging talent through works inspired by introspection, culture and heritage, as well as nature and the environment, offering a glimpse into the future of Pakistan’s contemporary art.
Satrang Gallery Director Asma Rashid Khan said the gallery was established with the vision of creating a dedicated platform where emerging artists could present their work, develop their practice and begin meaningful careers in the arts.
“Over the years, that vision has evolved into one of the gallery’s defining commitments. Our annual Emerging Artists Exhibition has become a highly anticipated platform, attracting an overwhelming response to our nationwide open call and introducing audiences to some of Pakistan’s most promising young artists,” she said.
She added that many artists who first exhibited with Satrang as recent graduates had since received national and international recognition, including Sulaiman Aqeel Khilji, Imran Hunzai and Ghulam Muhammad.
“Their journeys reaffirm our belief that supporting artists at the beginning of their careers can have a lasting impact. As Satrang continues to champion new voices, this exhibition celebrates not only the remarkable talent of this year’s selected artists but also the future of contemporary art in Pakistan,” she said.
The exhibition features works by Abdul Haleem Sabir, Abdul Rafeh, Abdul Rahman, Abeeha Imran, Aisha Yousaf, Aiza Noor, Amna Wajahat, Aneeka Khan, Athar Raza Changezi, Bakhtawar Naqvi, Barira Khan, Bhawna Kumari, Faheem Faisal, Faiza Taufique, Faizan Afzal, Fizza Imran, Hamza Panhwar, Insia Mehdi, Ishma Fahim, Jannat Rana, Khushboo Junejo, Laiba Masood, Maira Anjum, Mahnoor Ali Gilani, Marwah Waqar, Mishal Mahsud, Muhammad Bilal, Muntazir Mehdi, Muqeet Haider, Pervez Uddin, Rabia Nasir, Shehrbano Naqvi, Tabsheer Azmat, Tayyba Idress, Yahya Khan, Yumna Dar, Zainab Sabir, Zarish Nadeem, Zuha Khan and Zukhruf Farooq.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Austrian Ambassador Wolfgang Oliver Kutschera, who praised both the quality of the artwork and the gallery’s efforts to support emerging artists.
“It is a great pleasure for me to be with you today at the opening of this year’s Emerging Artists’ Exhibition at Satrang Gallery. I’m absolutely mesmerised by the beauty of the works on show. Bringing 40 artists together is a truly ambitious endeavour,” he said.
Congratulating the gallery, he said creating opportunities for emerging artists was an investment not only in their careers but also in Pakistan’s cultural future.
He added that the Austrian embassy was exploring ways to bring promising Austrian artists to Pakistan, possibly through an artists’ residency programme, with the aim of holding a joint exhibition featuring Austrian and Pakistani artists.
Among the participating artists, Abdul Rafeh said his work explored the space where light fades and unseen stories begin.
“I draw inspiration from forgotten folklore, hidden fears and the quiet creatures that exist in the shadows of imagination. These forms are not meant to frighten but to reveal what we usually choose not to see,” he said.
He said he used tonal cowhide as his primary material because it preserved memory, texture and traces of life. Combined with wire armatures, the material allowed the work to cast real shadows that extended beyond the artwork itself.
Abdul Haleem Sabir said his work revolved around the idea of “incompleteness” within every individual.
“When aspects of life remain unattended and unheard, they leave a lasting impression. Through colours, illumination, writing on acid-free paper and word cuttings, I present an unfinished yet complete portrayal of life’s journey,” he said.
Yumna Dar said her work explored the relationship between food, memory and emotion through surrealist imagery.
“Using foods from everyday life, I show how something so common shapes experiences and memories, from shopping in marketplaces to major events and small moments of joy.
The paintings invite viewers to relate to or relive those experiences,” she said.
Zarish Nadeem said she combined flowers, feathers, hummingbirds and other feminine elements with propellers, gauges, metal structures and aeronautical charts.
“Each piece reflects my experience as a young woman navigating a world of machinery while confidently commanding her own cockpit, balancing grace with authority. I honour every girl who dreams of the skies, discovering her courage, command and pride without diminishing her femininity,” she said.
Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2026