{"componentChunkName":"component---src-templates-article-js","path":"/war-conditions-see-karachi-biennale-cancelled/","result":{"data":{"wordpressPost":{"id":129874,"slug":"war-conditions-see-karachi-biennale-cancelled","title":"‘War conditions’ see Karachi Biennale cancelled","excerpt":"Decision took curator Noor Ahmed by surprise","content":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-16-at-07.28.55-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-129884\" srcset=\"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-16-at-07.28.55-1.png 1090w, https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-16-at-07.28.55-1-600x571.png 600w, https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-16-at-07.28.55-1-300x286.png 300w, https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-16-at-07.28.55-1-768x731.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1090px) 100vw, 1090px\" /><figcaption>Noor Ahmed. Courtesy Karaichi Biennale</figcaption></figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2027 Karachi Biennale has been cancelled, with the organisers citing in a <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DeR0T_0oIU7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;exln=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==&amp;srtk=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement</a> the ‘war conditions prevailing in the regions’. Curated by Noor Ahmed, the fifth edition of the event was due to open for two months from 16 January. </p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ahmed had intended the exhibition, titled <em><em>Kal</em> (Yesterday/Tomorrow),</em> to be ‘a dedication for the hopeful Tomorrow.’</p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a key ally of Saudi Arabia, as well as sharing a border with Iran, Pakistan has been drawn into the conflict with Houthi rebels in Yemen.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ahmed told Pakistan’s <em>Images</em> that she was not consulted on the decision to axe the event, which was ‘devastating for the artists, curators and partners who have devoted so much time and effort in preparing for the Biennale’.</p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fourth Lahore Biennale is due to open in March, alongside the 14th general assembly for the International Biennial Association. </p>\n","path":"/war-conditions-see-karachi-biennale-cancelled/","format":"standard","date":"16 October 2026","rawDate":"2026-10-16T11:04:13.000Z","branch":{"name":"artreview.com"},"author":{"name":"ArtReview","path":"/author/artreviewartreview-com/"},"category":{"name":"News","path":"/category/news/"},"featured_media":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-16-at-07.28-copy.jpg","caption":"","alt_text":"","media_details":{"width":1109,"height":624,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-16-at-07.28-copy-300x169.jpg","width":300,"height":169},"medium":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-16-at-07.28-copy-600x338.jpg","width":600,"height":338},"large":null,"wordpress_1536x1536":null,"wordpress_2048x2048":null}}},"acf":{"article_artist":null,"article_video":null,"article_audio":null,"article_collaboration":"","article_custom_html_snippet":"","article_featured_title":"","article_featured_description":"","article_highlight":false,"article_custom_link_url":"","hero_image":null,"seo_title":"‘War conditions’ see Karachi Biennale cancelled | ArtReview","seo_description":"The 2027 Karachi Biennale has been cancelled, with the organisers citing ‘war conditions prevailing in the regions’. Curated by Noor Ahmed, the fifth edition of the event was due to open for two months from 16 January. ","article_related_articles":[{"id":129830,"title":"Rubaiya Qatar 2026 announces full list of artists","path":"/rubaiya-qatar-2026-announces-full-list-of-artists/","author":{"name":"ArtReview","path":"/author/artreview/"},"category":{"name":"News","path":"/category/news/"},"featured_media":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-scaled.jpg","caption":"","alt_text":"Manny Montelibano, A Dashed state (still), 2015","media_details":{"width":2560,"height":1549,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-300x182.jpg","width":300,"height":182},"medium":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-600x363.jpg","width":600,"height":363},"large":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-1230x744.jpg","width":1230,"height":744},"wordpress_1536x1536":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-1536x930.jpg","width":1536,"height":930},"wordpress_2048x2048":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/1-2048x1239.jpg","width":2048,"height":1239}}}},"acf":{"article_collaboration":""}},{"id":129834,"title":"Peter Nagy, artist and founder of Nature Morte, 1959–2026","path":"/peter-nagy-artist-and-founder-of-nature-morte-1959-2026/","author":{"name":"ArtReview","path":"/author/artreview/"},"category":{"name":"News","path":"/category/news/"},"featured_media":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-14-at-09.00.39.png","caption":"Peter Nagy. Courtest Nature Morte, New Delhi and Mumbai","alt_text":"black and white portrait of Peter Nagy, laughing","media_details":{"width":1042,"height":772,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-14-at-09.00.39-300x222.png","width":300,"height":222},"medium":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-14-at-09.00.39-600x445.png","width":600,"height":445},"large":null,"wordpress_1536x1536":null,"wordpress_2048x2048":null}}},"acf":{"article_collaboration":""}},{"id":129560,"title":"Biennale Jogja Foundation closes","path":"/biennale-jogja-foundation-closes/","author":{"name":"ArtReview","path":"/author/artreview/"},"category":{"name":"News","path":"/category/news/"},"featured_media":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Arahmaini_Flag-Project-Javanese-version_flag_200cmx150cm_2024_2-scaled.jpg","caption":"Arahmaiani, <em>Flag Project</em> (Javanese version), 2024. Courtesy the artist","alt_text":"","media_details":{"width":2560,"height":1440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Arahmaini_Flag-Project-Javanese-version_flag_200cmx150cm_2024_2-300x169.jpg","width":300,"height":169},"medium":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Arahmaini_Flag-Project-Javanese-version_flag_200cmx150cm_2024_2-600x338.jpg","width":600,"height":338},"large":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Arahmaini_Flag-Project-Javanese-version_flag_200cmx150cm_2024_2-1230x692.jpg","width":1230,"height":692},"wordpress_1536x1536":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Arahmaini_Flag-Project-Javanese-version_flag_200cmx150cm_2024_2-1536x864.jpg","width":1536,"height":864},"wordpress_2048x2048":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Arahmaini_Flag-Project-Javanese-version_flag_200cmx150cm_2024_2-2048x1152.jpg","width":2048,"height":1152}}}},"acf":{"article_collaboration":""}},{"id":129409,"title":"Souraya Noujaim appointed director of Louvre Abu Dhabi","path":"/souraya-noujaim-appointed-director-of-louvre-abu-dhabi/","author":{"name":"ArtReview","path":"/author/artreview/"},"category":{"name":"News","path":"/category/news/"},"featured_media":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/fimage-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter.jpg","caption":"","alt_text":"","media_details":{"width":1880,"height":1057,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/fimage-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter-300x169.jpg","width":300,"height":169},"medium":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/fimage-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter-600x337.jpg","width":600,"height":337},"large":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/fimage-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter-1230x692.jpg","width":1230,"height":692},"wordpress_1536x1536":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/fimage-ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg-converter-1536x864.jpg","width":1536,"height":864},"wordpress_2048x2048":null}}},"acf":{"article_collaboration":""}},{"id":129288,"title":"Artists announced for 2026 Asian Art Biennial","path":"/artists-announced-for-2026-asian-art-biennial/","author":{"name":"ArtReview","path":"/author/artreview/"},"category":{"name":"News","path":"/category/news/"},"featured_media":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/meita-meilita.png","caption":"","alt_text":"Meita Meilita, Wanai Saiji: the shape of being, 2025","media_details":{"width":2000,"height":1334,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/meita-meilita-300x200.png","width":300,"height":200},"medium":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/meita-meilita-600x400.png","width":600,"height":400},"large":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/meita-meilita-1230x820.png","width":1230,"height":820},"wordpress_1536x1536":{"source_url":"https://backend.artreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/meita-meilita-1536x1025.png","width":1536,"height":1025},"wordpress_2048x2048":null}}},"acf":{"article_collaboration":""}}]}}},"pageContext":{"wordpress_id":129874,"categorySlugs":["news"]}},"staticQueryHashes":["1047144546","1199547381","1199547381","1200741782","1200741782","2238591713","3764592887","4156135988","753543242","753543242","919364628"]}