The Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) inaugurated "Shared Distances",the third edition of its annual exhibition dedicated to showcasing the creativity and vision of young fine arts graduates from the twin cities. The exhibition, curated by Noor Fatima, brings together 90 plus artworks by over 40 emerging artists from leading institutions, including the National College of Arts (Rawalpindi), Fatima Jinnah Women University, COMSATS University, and Rawalpindi Women University.
The exhibition was formally inaugurated by Mr. Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Federal Minister of Culture and Heritage, who was joined by diplomats, senior artists, academics, and cultural figures. On the occasion, the minister congratulated the curator Noor Fatima, the Director General of PNCA, Muhammad Ayoub Jamali and the participating artists for creating a platform that highlights the strength of Pakistan’s young creative voices.
Mr. Aurangzeb Khan Khichi,
along with DG PNCA, Ayoub Jammali, planted a tree at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) today, highlighting the importance of tree plantation in combating environmental changes.
This initiative not only helps in combating climate change but also promotes environmental conservation, green spaces, and a healthier ecosystem for future generations.
Speaking at the opening, "Shared Distances"
Mr. Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said:“This exhibition is a testament to the immense talent of Pakistan’s youth. It reflects their ability to draw from our cultural heritage while addressing contemporary realities with originality and depth. PNCA’s commitment to nurturing young artists ensures that our cultural future remains dynamic and inclusive. I congratulate the curator, the artists, and the PNCA team for making this important platform possible.”
The exhibition will remain on view until 10th September 2025 at PNCA’s galleries in Islamabad.
Shared Distances reflects on the complexities of memory, longing, resilience, and transformation. Across painting, printmaking, sculpture, miniature painting, and installation, the works explore the thresholds of perception from intimate personal histories to broader cultural narratives. Together, the artists chart how distance is experienced and reimagined, offering viewers a profound meditation on separation, connection, and the shifting landscapes of belonging.
“In a time when connections are fleeting, places shift before they can settle in memory, and the familiar often feels just out of reach, Shared Distances offers a space for stillness and reflection,” writes curator Noor Fatima. “These works reveal the delicate negotiations between presence and absence, intimacy and detachment, and invite viewers to find echoes of their own experiences within them.”
This edition demonstrates the remarkable breadth and vitality of contemporary artistic practice in Pakistan, positioning young graduates not only as inheritors of tradition but also as active voices shaping the country’s cultural future.
Participating Artists: Abrish Zahra, Aliza, Amna Ayyaz, Amna Wajahat, Areeba Naeem, Arooj Fazil, Asma Ali, Aweesa Tariq, Ayesha Afzal, Ayesha Bibi, Ayesha Tanveer, Bakhtawar Nedeem, Eman Ijaz Choudhary, Faseeh bin Amir, Fatima Khan, Fatima Maqbool, Fatimah Mirza, Hazafa Asim, Javeria Khalid, Khizra Tanveer, Laiba Abdullah, Lubna Khattak, Mahnoor Shahid, Makayil Rana, Mishaal Jahangir, Mishaim Gardezi, Mishal Mahsud, Muqeet Haider, Nida Zainab, Noor e Sahar, Pakiza Hassan, Qudsia Khurshid, Raeesa Abbas, Ramsha Ali, Samreen Rehman, Saleha Naseem, Sumbal Minahal, Tayyaba Qureshi, Vaneeza Azami, Zainab Akram, Zakia Irfan Khan, Zel-Arsh.
