A SAFE SPACE in Lahore Dr. Jassim Taqui DG, Al-bab Institute for Strategic Studies

Islamabad May 16, 2023: Renowned artist Ahmer Farooq’s solo show ‘A Safe Space’ opened at Pakistan Art Forum Gallery on 6th May. The show sheds light on the concept of safe spaces within a society and the important role that they play in the development of subcultures. The show displayed 17 paintings, 1 sculpture, and 1 NFT. The German Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Alfred Grannas inaugurated the show. The Norwegian Ambassador, the US Consul General, and the head of Communications and Cultural Affairs at the German embassy were also in attendance alongside different foreign diplomats and art enthusiasts. Challenging the homogenous view of society, ‘A Safe Space’ celebrates the ‘marginalized’. It pays homage to the spaces the ‘marginalized’ carve out for themselves, both as an act of resistance as well as a pressing need. These spaces become sites of inclusion, connectivity, and celebration of who these people are and the lives they choose to live. The power imbalances in every society create a ‘self’ and the ‘other’, where the other is structurally, systemically, and socially excluded. Women, queer communities, and ethnic and religious minorities often become these ‘marginalized’ groups, whose realities are demarcated, amongst other ways, by a lack of spaces, making it difficult to move, live freely, and integrate into society. About the artist Ahmer Farooq is a visual artist based in Lahore, Pakistan. He works with mixed media to produce contemporary art that depicts current concerns, anxieties, and aspirations by focusing on personalities and movements in an evocative and alluring manner. Over the years, he has developed a signature style using a color palette that has been recognized globally. He was awarded The Stephen Medd ‘Artist of the Year Award’ in 1999. His work is held in private collections in China, Denmark, Germany, India, Japan, Norway, Pakistan, UAE, the UK, and the USA, to name a few. He honed his artistic skills through formal and semi-formal training. He completed his basic art education at Bedford Modern School in the UK and continued to develop his broader professional skills with an MBA from Imperial College.