'The way in which international media frames certain ideas affects public perception , and relates to the struggle to deal effectively with a diversity of experiences and perspectives of Muslim women across borders...'

Toronto based visual artist and curator Iman Aziz Bhatti will share her experiences on how Muslim Pakistani women represent their identity and culture across borders through contemporary art, theory and criticism; and how visual arts is giving them agency to represent themselves while challenging the normalization of stereotypical ideas and realities put forward by media.

Iman Azizi Bhatti graduated in Fine Art and in Criticism and Curatorial Practice from Ontario College of Art & Design University. Her practice explores themes of identity, gender roles, orientalism and resistance to emphasize how exposure to images shapes perception, particularly that of South Asian women.

An opportunity to explore the rich cultural heritage and the fascinating art & craft scene across Pakistan!

A slide presentation will be followed by a documentary:

‘An Ode to the Mystic City -- Androon Lahore’ that offers glimpses into the rich history and culture of the walled city of Lahore, focusing on its fascinating Mughal architecture , the life in and around the historical gates of the city, and the evolution of culture amidst inadequate efforts to preserve heritage.

Hyatt’s prime reason for making this documentary film is her personal association with the city "It is a subject that is close to my heart which I have been rediscovering over the years, having being born and bred in that city. The changes in the inner city have been manifold but the romance lives on.I wanted to contribute positively to the cultural scene..."

Nageen Hyatt - alongside her involvement with human rights and peace, is the Founder/Director of the Nomad Art Gallery and Cultural Centre-A holistic centre that aims to promote artists from different backgrounds and genres, and offers seminars and programmes to educate and enhance an understanding of the arts in Pakistan.

A multi-media presentation/display/conversation:

‘Henry Charles (Hal) Bevan-Petman, was born in Britain. He graduated with a Fine Arts degree from the Slade School of Art in 1917. His parents, moved to the Subcontinent where they had several businesses amongst some of which were coalmines in the Baluchistan region. Research shows Hal was the third generation of his family to reside in India, then under British rule. Hal and his third wife Berylle Dyer, whom he met, and married in Lahore some years before partition, settled down to a life residing in Rawalpindi Club, with the hot summers spent in Murree and Bhurban. She was very supportive of his work and the two of them became a part of the fabric of Pakistan society...’

Pakistan, in the the 50s, 60s and 70s – saw a consistent high in Petman’s popularity. His clientele was the elite, with distinguished backgrounds, who vied for a portrait to be done by him. Included in the list were several notable personalities and/or their spouses. Ranging from the Nawab of Bahawalpur, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the Founder of Pakistan, and various subsequent Presidents and Military Commanders. He was also commissioned to paint military battle scenes which now adorn the walls of numerous Pakistan Military Academic Institutions. However, his signature style by which he is remembered mostly today is of those doe- eyed , long necked socialite beauties of the day-known as ‘The Petman Girls’!

In later years, labelled as “a commissioned artist”, he was shunned by the local art scene, his particular niche artistry lost in a flood of modernism. However this did not apparently make a dent in his appreciation as an artist, as his portraiture reached British Royalty where four of his works are displayed in Sandringham House , gifted to Queen Elizabeth II by the Government of Pakistan in 1961. These paintings form a part of the Royal Art Collection.

Amateur researcher Romano Karim Yusuf has been tracing Hal Bevan Petman's story for three decades. He shares in this presentation a small piece of history and an aspect of culture; a walk into the lives of the people who had been an important part of an almost forgotten history when portraiture was done in the classical style of a traditional oil painting, and considered and respected as an art form- a refreshing addition to the Pakistani art scene and local art history. Based on her correspondence with Romano , Hal’s granddaughter is now writing a book on her grandfather.