AFIELD Trip to Pakistan (4-11 November 2024)

This journey was born out of a desire to connect communities driving cultural and environmental transformation in different contexts. Inspired by our 2022 Fellow Yasmeen Lari’s call to physically engage with those at the forefront of innovative and sustainable solutions, we set out to explore the rich intersections of art, architecture, and heritage across Pakistan.

In 2022, when renowned architect Yasmeen Lari was awarded the AFIELD Fellowship—for her continued efforts in the conservation of historic architecture and the empowerment of vulnerable communities in Pakistan—she stated that it was not merely financial support that was required, but that given our shared responsibility for the global climate crisis, it was imperative that we physically mobilise our network to witness the work first-hand and engage with the communities on the ground.

This became the impetus for AFIELD to organise a trip for a group of like-minded

thinkers and practitioners to discover the cultural field in both Karachi and Lahore via the two art biennales in the cities, and with witness Lari’s work in Karachi and the community at Pono Village in Mirpur Khas.

The AFIELD Trip is built in collaboration with Zain Mustafa, Indus River Valley Institute (IRVI), Yasmeen Lari, Heritage Foundation Pakistan, John Tain, curator of Lahore Biennale Foundation, and Waheeda Baloch, curator of Karachi Biennale 24.