Project Summary

New Narratives in Photography is a yearlong project executed by GRAIN Projects and Tasweerghar which consisted of professional development, networking trip to the UK, 10 Day residency and a final showcase of the Photography works created in this project. In collaboration they delivered a residency project that supported diverse and marginalized Pakistani artists curated in the context of prevalent themes including social justice, identity, gender, diaspora and home.

An international collaboration between Tasweerghar (Lahore, Pakistan) and GRAIN Projects

(Birmingham, UK), as part of the British Council Pakistan Arts Residency Grants Programme 2023-2024. The four artists all have a unique and personal approach to photography, are ambitious in their work and have something to say about the world we live in. They come from a place of care, compassion and collaboration; their work is based on research and conversation and their artwork is of great relevance and interest, both as emerging practitioners in Pakistan, and to the photography scene internationally. The themes they explore include gender and identity, place making and diaspora and colonial heritage.

Artists: Asad Ali, Hira Noor, Ume Laila and Waleed Zafar, will be showing new work, made during the one year long project at MAC, (The Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, UK) and at WOW Festival, at the Alhamra Gallery, followed by an exhibition at Tasweerghar. GRAIN and Tasweerghar are arts organizations that create new opportunities for diverse and emerging artists and photographers, supporting the development of skills and opportunities.