Karachi Biennale 2024 Unveils ‘Rizq/Risk’ Art Theme

KB24 is set to begin on October 27, bringing

an immersive art experience across five venues

in Karachi over two weeks

Culture Reporter

Karachi: The Fourth Karachi Biennale (KB24) is set to begin on October 27, bringing an immersive art experience across five venues in Karachi over two weeks. With the theme “Rizq/Risk,” this year’s event explores critical issues in the food landscape through interactive installations, performances, videos, and paintings by over 40 artists from 10 countries. Visitors can enjoy these free exhibitions at various locations including Bagh Ibne Qasim, Clifton; Alliance Française, Clifton; Frere Hall, Saddar; NED University, Saddar; and Sambara Art Gallery, Stadium Road. Open weekdays from 10 am to 6 pm, KB24’s program is available for further details on www.karachibiennale.org.pk.

Addressing Urgent Issues through Art

In response to Pakistan’s recent climate challenges, such as floods and heatwaves impacting food security, this year’s Biennale will initiate conversations on colonial and neoliberal food production policies that prioritize profit over sustainability. The showcased works will highlight indigenous knowledge for ecological healing and celebrate the role of women in preserving traditional food cultures.

Managing Trustee Niilofur Farrukh remarked on the power of art to address complex issues, sharing that “the conversations on Rizq/Risk during KB24 will merge global concerns over food justice with the hope for new solutions,” represented by the tagline Nai fasal ki umeed (In the hope of a new harvest).

Art Prizes and Public Engagements

The Biennale will offer three prestigious art prizes: the KB24 Juried Prize, the KB24 EBM Emerging Artist Prize, and the Performance Art Prize. A robust public programming schedule at Bagh Ibne Qasim will include guided tours, workshops, and artist talks. Visitors can also explore a reading room and view “Palestinian Artists Live in Our Hearts,” an exhibit featuring fabric art by students from across Pakistan as a tribute to Gaza’s artists.

Curator Waheeda Baloch discussed her interpretation of the theme, shaped by her experiences in Sindh, Sweden, and Germany, which bring a global perspective to Rizq/Risk. KBT Trustee Almas Bana acknowledged the support from local philanthropists, corporate backers, and the Cultural Department of Sindh, which continues to provide iconic venues such as Sambara Art Gallery for the Biennale.