Protest held against shutting down of artwork.

Byline: Peerzada Salman

KARACHI -- Artists, members of civil society and social activists gathered at Frere Hall on Thursday evening to register their protest against the shutting down by law enforcement agencies on Sunday of an art installation that was on display as part of the ongoing Karachi Biennale (KB19).

The protesters led by artist Sheema Kermani started gathering at the venue from the time given by the organisers, some symbolically wearing black clothes, others white. They made rows, as were depicted in the artwork by Adeela Suleman which was closed down, and sat down. Then they began chanting lines such as hum wo hain jo tareek raahon mein maarey gay (we were put to death on benighted roads). The chants slowly grew louder. After that the participants lay down on the floor.

Talking to Dawn artist Yasir Husain, whose artwork is displayed at Bagh Ibne Qasim as a KB19 exhibit, said, 'The biennale organisers have the responsibility to look after their artists, but the way they tolerated what happened to Adeela's work is a question that they haven't been asking. They could've come here.'

When asked whether he had talked to the biennale officials...

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