LOOKING THROUGH THE WIDER LENS brings closer to a European audience the overlooked, yet exceptionally vibrant contemporary art from Pakistan. The show is the premiere exhibition held in Switzerland, which features five emerging women artists who have been trained within the traditions of historical miniature painting. Many of the works are being shown for the first time in Europe.

LOOKING THROUGH A WIDER LENS focuses on the contemporary miniature movement in Pakistan and demonstrates the skills of the modern miniaturist artist, who have transformed the traditional, historical miniature painting from the Mughal courts of South Asia into today’s stunning contemporary art form.  

The artists featured in LOOKING THROUGH THE WIDER LENS take various approaches to the changing use of miniature painting, by using contemporary themes that reflect their lives living as a woman in Pakistan; themes that touch upon sexuality, identity as well as a discourse with their environment. Subject matters are played with ideas of scale, or utilizing digital and other forms of media instead of painting.

When considering the global media coverage concerning Pakistan, the focus is almost exclusively on military and geopolitical issues. The dynamic and burgeoning contemporary arts scene in cities such as Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad is routinely overshadowed by such attentions. This show hopes to change that.