The IVS Alumni Collective 2008
Text: Sara Jami
Photography: Khaula Jamil and Farzad Bagheri
They say that if you want to know what an institution is really all about, take a look at the students who have graduated and pursuing their careers in professional life. The Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture was set up as a dream venture between like-minded friends some 20 odd years ago; forward thinking individuals who felt a city like Karachi needed a place that would breed creativity, expansion of ideas, responsibility to life and simply, a spirit of positive change. They took the proverbial leap of faith and an art school was born.
The School’s journey has been eventful- filled with struggles and victories and as the number of artists, designer and architects graduating grew, the need to have a community of alumni also became stronger; a platform on which they could regroup, connect, network, collaborate or simply share their memories. And finally, in November 2001, as the 8th graduating batch of IVS stepped forward to receive their degrees, the IVS Alumni Association was born.
The IVS Alumni Association’s main mission in the last seven years has been to bring together all IVS Alumni- now far flung into the different corners of the world, and create a database of all the change-makers and opinion-leaders, who exist and flourish in the challenges of a constantly evolving socio-political environment the world over. Graduates from the IVS have gone on to become well known artists, pioneering designers, award winning TV anchors, great architects, ceramists, interior designers and leading fashion designers and entrepreneurs. It was indeed time to bring them together under one roof. Keeping this in mind, earlier this year the IVS Alumni Show Subcommittee, comprising mainly of Alumni Ramiz Baig (Architecture 2001), Mariam Hussain (Communication Design 1999), Maria Ansari (Architecture 1999) and Sara Jamil (Communication Design 1999), was formed, with the main intent of showcasing the alumni in their very first group exhibition.
Featuring 41 alumni from the last 15 years, the concept behind the show was simple- to put forward a representation of personal work and projects as a sort of testament to the world for all that the IVS people stand for and have achieved both individually and collectively on both a commercial and non commercial basis. Held at the Zahoor-ul-Ikhlaque Gallery on the IVS Campus, the Alumni Collective, aptly called 15, opened to an avid crowd in the beautifully lit Nusserwanji Courtyard, on the evening of December 3rd, 2008 with a world music performance and video projection by the Chand Tara Orchestra- the idea of which was put forward by Babar Shaikh, Communication Design Alumni 1999, now a filmmaker and musician. Welcome speeches by Ramiz Baig (Alumni Association President 2006-2008) and Samina Khan (Executive Director, IVS) started the evening off on a note of high energy and excitement, also tinged with nostalgia as faculty and students mingled with the alumni of many years and several of the Schools Founder members took time out to come and support their Alumni Association’s flagship Show.
Works of art included a great variety of pieces, ranging from digital art posters by Farzad Bagheri (Communication Design 2003) and Uzair Akram (communication Design 2001) to social comment making sculptures by Adeela Suleman (Fine Art 1999). Amongst the well known names were a series of experimental photographs by Amean J, photographer du jour and a painting by Bilal Maqsood (Communication Design 1995), Pakistan’s musician par excellence. Architects Sayem Ghayur (Architecture 2000), with his innovative Stitches project and travel photographs and Maria Ansari (Architecture 1999), with her company’s TATA House Project, and Fawad Suhail (Architecture 2001) and Naveed Salam (Architecture 2000) with their collage of projects were amongst the several architects who also presented their work. One architect Maria Aslam (Architecture 1998) who stood out with her year old venture ADA, Architecture Design Art; a premier magazine which translates the works in the various design field of Pakistan and presents it to the world in an enlightening manner. Whereas while the fashion side of things was represented by much in vogue embroidered works of Nida Azwer (Textile Design 2004) and a huge funky leather bag with dabka motif from Mahin Hussain Accessories (Textile Design 2002).
It is always a wonderful surprise to find a passionate artist’s soul lurking beneath the technical expertise of an architect or a textile designer who has an eye for water colours or simply to find someone with a graphic design degree having found their creative style and mojo as a teacher hand-crafting and experimenting with children’s art techniques. In many of the works, the breaking away from the norm of what is expected of “professional” in today’s society of artists came through as one stood to admire the violent colours on a portrait with Punjabi song lyrics splashed across the face or understand the feeling behind a series of type-illustrative poster/postcards on bottled Karachi moments.
From the large, arresting portraits by Khaula Jamil (Communication Design 2005) and Zeeshan Haider (communication Design 2007) to the very thought provoking photographs on the pace of cultural change by seasoned artist Huma Mulji (Fine Art 1994). Stretching the variety of the exhibition even further were the reusable plastic bag project Asiah Seemad- (Textile Design 1999), the ceramic piece collection by Sadia Salim (Fine Art 1994), the decorative henna plate Humna Mustafa- (Textile Design 1999), the music video highlighting the commercial success filmmaking can be Umer Adil- (Communication Design 2002), the satirical commentary on TV today Mithra and Rakhsahanda- (Fine Art and Communication Design 2001) and sculptural pieces exploring ideas and media of wood Ayesha Khalid, (Fine Art 2006) and leather Seema Nusrat, (Fine Art 2004)
As a visitor to the exhibition later remarked, “One felt like wandering about for hours taking it all in. I really wish there was a permanent gallery of this sort where these works could be enjoyed all year round.” The purpose behind this exhibition, the first of what is hoped will be a regular annual event, is not only to showcase the commercial success that may follow the IVS graduate, but also encourage and display a more horizontal all-encompassing definition of what art and creativity actually can be for different individuals with the same education. The planning and presenting, by the IVS Alumni Association and the Gallery Committee, was done with thought and consideration, and the whole area came out alive, portraying each piece individually and professionally.
Photography: Khaula Jamil and Farzad Bagheri
They say that if you want to know what an institution is really all about, take a look at the students who have graduated and pursuing their careers in professional life. The Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture was set up as a dream venture between like-minded friends some 20 odd years ago; forward thinking individuals who felt a city like Karachi needed a place that would breed creativity, expansion of ideas, responsibility to life and simply, a spirit of positive change. They took the proverbial leap of faith and an art school was born.
The School’s journey has been eventful- filled with struggles and victories and as the number of artists, designer and architects graduating grew, the need to have a community of alumni also became stronger; a platform on which they could regroup, connect, network, collaborate or simply share their memories. And finally, in November 2001, as the 8th graduating batch of IVS stepped forward to receive their degrees, the IVS Alumni Association was born.
The IVS Alumni Association’s main mission in the last seven years has been to bring together all IVS Alumni- now far flung into the different corners of the world, and create a database of all the change-makers and opinion-leaders, who exist and flourish in the challenges of a constantly evolving socio-political environment the world over. Graduates from the IVS have gone on to become well known artists, pioneering designers, award winning TV anchors, great architects, ceramists, interior designers and leading fashion designers and entrepreneurs. It was indeed time to bring them together under one roof. Keeping this in mind, earlier this year the IVS Alumni Show Subcommittee, comprising mainly of Alumni Ramiz Baig (Architecture 2001), Mariam Hussain (Communication Design 1999), Maria Ansari (Architecture 1999) and Sara Jamil (Communication Design 1999), was formed, with the main intent of showcasing the alumni in their very first group exhibition.
Featuring 41 alumni from the last 15 years, the concept behind the show was simple- to put forward a representation of personal work and projects as a sort of testament to the world for all that the IVS people stand for and have achieved both individually and collectively on both a commercial and non commercial basis. Held at the Zahoor-ul-Ikhlaque Gallery on the IVS Campus, the Alumni Collective, aptly called 15, opened to an avid crowd in the beautifully lit Nusserwanji Courtyard, on the evening of December 3rd, 2008 with a world music performance and video projection by the Chand Tara Orchestra- the idea of which was put forward by Babar Shaikh, Communication Design Alumni 1999, now a filmmaker and musician. Welcome speeches by Ramiz Baig (Alumni Association President 2006-2008) and Samina Khan (Executive Director, IVS) started the evening off on a note of high energy and excitement, also tinged with nostalgia as faculty and students mingled with the alumni of many years and several of the Schools Founder members took time out to come and support their Alumni Association’s flagship Show.
Works of art included a great variety of pieces, ranging from digital art posters by Farzad Bagheri (Communication Design 2003) and Uzair Akram (communication Design 2001) to social comment making sculptures by Adeela Suleman (Fine Art 1999). Amongst the well known names were a series of experimental photographs by Amean J, photographer du jour and a painting by Bilal Maqsood (Communication Design 1995), Pakistan’s musician par excellence. Architects Sayem Ghayur (Architecture 2000), with his innovative Stitches project and travel photographs and Maria Ansari (Architecture 1999), with her company’s TATA House Project, and Fawad Suhail (Architecture 2001) and Naveed Salam (Architecture 2000) with their collage of projects were amongst the several architects who also presented their work. One architect Maria Aslam (Architecture 1998) who stood out with her year old venture ADA, Architecture Design Art; a premier magazine which translates the works in the various design field of Pakistan and presents it to the world in an enlightening manner. Whereas while the fashion side of things was represented by much in vogue embroidered works of Nida Azwer (Textile Design 2004) and a huge funky leather bag with dabka motif from Mahin Hussain Accessories (Textile Design 2002).
It is always a wonderful surprise to find a passionate artist’s soul lurking beneath the technical expertise of an architect or a textile designer who has an eye for water colours or simply to find someone with a graphic design degree having found their creative style and mojo as a teacher hand-crafting and experimenting with children’s art techniques. In many of the works, the breaking away from the norm of what is expected of “professional” in today’s society of artists came through as one stood to admire the violent colours on a portrait with Punjabi song lyrics splashed across the face or understand the feeling behind a series of type-illustrative poster/postcards on bottled Karachi moments.
From the large, arresting portraits by Khaula Jamil (Communication Design 2005) and Zeeshan Haider (communication Design 2007) to the very thought provoking photographs on the pace of cultural change by seasoned artist Huma Mulji (Fine Art 1994). Stretching the variety of the exhibition even further were the reusable plastic bag project Asiah Seemad- (Textile Design 1999), the ceramic piece collection by Sadia Salim (Fine Art 1994), the decorative henna plate Humna Mustafa- (Textile Design 1999), the music video highlighting the commercial success filmmaking can be Umer Adil- (Communication Design 2002), the satirical commentary on TV today Mithra and Rakhsahanda- (Fine Art and Communication Design 2001) and sculptural pieces exploring ideas and media of wood Ayesha Khalid, (Fine Art 2006) and leather Seema Nusrat, (Fine Art 2004)
As a visitor to the exhibition later remarked, “One felt like wandering about for hours taking it all in. I really wish there was a permanent gallery of this sort where these works could be enjoyed all year round.” The purpose behind this exhibition, the first of what is hoped will be a regular annual event, is not only to showcase the commercial success that may follow the IVS graduate, but also encourage and display a more horizontal all-encompassing definition of what art and creativity actually can be for different individuals with the same education. The planning and presenting, by the IVS Alumni Association and the Gallery Committee, was done with thought and consideration, and the whole area came out alive, portraying each piece individually and professionally.
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