The sprawling lawns of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in Islamabad recently underwent a radical metamorphosis. What is usually a manicured landscape became the site of “In the Meantime: An Installation Garden,” the country’s first and largest dedicated outdoor sculpture show. Concluding its run in late February, the exhibition successfully reimagined the relationship between public space, the natural elements, and contemporary Pakistani art.
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A Curatorial Vision of “Pause”
Curated by Noor Fatima, the exhibition was inaugurated by Mr. Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, Minister of National Heritage and Culture Division. The core philosophy of the show rested on the concept of the in-between, a site of reflection and pause. By moving art out of the sterile, white-walled gallery and into the open-air amphitheater and lawns, Fatima invited viewers to witness how time, memory, and material weather under the Islamabad sky.
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31 Artists, One Immersive Dialogue
The strength of the show lay in its diversity. The garden served as a democratic stage for 31 artists, ranging from legendary senior masters to boundary-pushing emerging talents. This intergenerational mix allowed for a unique dialogue.
Works utilized everything from heavy metals and stone to ephemeral, organic materials that interacted with the wind and light.
Unlike indoor pieces, these installations were “living” works, changing their shadows and textures from the 10 am opening until the 5 pm daily close.
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Reclaiming Public Space
For the residents of Islamabad and visiting art enthusiasts, the show was more than just an aesthetic display; it was a cultural shift. By utilizing the PNCA amphitheater, the exhibition transformed a formal institution into an accessible, immersive experience. It challenged the viewer to consider how art can exist outside of a frame, standing tall against the elements.
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As the exhibition packed up in late February, it left behind a significant legacy. “In the Meantime” has set a high benchmark for large-scale public installations in Pakistan, proving that the nation’s sculptural landscape is as vast and varied as the terrain itself.
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