Dawn Images

The fifth Karachi Biennale, which was scheduled to take place from January 16 to 31, has been cancelled due to regional instability and logistical constraints, the Karachi Biennale Trust (KBT) announced on Friday.

In an Instagram post, the trust said the decision was taken “on account of the war conditions prevailing in the region and the resultant logistical constraints and incertitude”.

The organisers expressed their gratitude to “artists, sponsors, partners, collaborators and well wishers for their unstinting support” and said they looked forward to working together to promote visual arts in the future.

They did not, however, say when that future might be as no details have been shared about future exhibitions.

The 2027 Biennale was set to be a milestone for the trust, marking ten years since their first such event in 2017.

The theme for the exhibition was Kal (Yesterday/Tomorrow), focusing on the evolving nature of Karachi as a city and was curated by former Citizens Archive of Pakistan general manager Noor Ahmed.

In a statement given to Images, Ahmed said the trust’s announcement was “devastating for the artists, curators and partners who have devoted so much time and effort in preparing for the Biennale”.

She said she remained committed to supporting the people she had been working with over the last 13 months — including over 100 artists, two international co-curators and one Pakistani co-curator — who had been reaching out to her with “confusion and concern”.

Ahmed said the decision was “unilateral” and was made by the trust without consulting her. She said artists and partners “are all quite disappointed about how communications and commitments with them are being handled by [the trust]”.

“I am very concerned that this decision by the Karachi Biennale Trust is detrimental for Pakistan’s international art ecosystem.”

A curtain raiser for the event was held in February comprising a 77-minute preview featuring works by 72 artists from 18 countries. The event, hosted by artist Amin Gulgee, provided a preview into the international nature and wide scope of the now-cancelled event.

At the curtain raiser, Ahmed had said the Biennale would consist of exhibitions planned across public spaces, ports and parks, celebrating diasporic exchanges, indigenous knowledge and the languages and skills of the sea.

The Karachi Biennale is the latest cultural event to be impacted by the turbulent situation in the region, with May’s ARY Entertainment Awards postponed indefinitely due to the security situation at their Dubai venue.

The grand finale of Pakistan Idol was also postponed in April in light of austerity measures, but ended up taking place in August.