LAHORE: The four-day Lahore Digital Art Festival concluded on Sunday, attended by 25,000 or so visitors across its 9 venues. Over the span of four days, art enthusiasts from various walks of life, ranging from children and young artists to families and the general public, experienced the marvels of digital art firsthand.
Celebrating the convergence of technology and art, the festival showcased the creative prowess of 74 artists from 14 nations, amplifying the universality of the art form. Its ripple effect was felt online as well, with a commendable 1.5 million interactions.
The audience, especially the younger attendees, was particularly enchanted by the interactive digital installations. Amara, a university student, recounted her experience at Aangun, “We saw a work of a German artist, Anton. When we touched metal balls, they drew energy from us to produce music and made great artworks on the screen. It was a really good experience!”.
Curator Najamul Assar commented, “It’s heartening to see the enthusiastic response from both the local community and international artists. We are optimistic about the festival becoming a cornerstone for Lahore’s arts sector in the years to come.”
The festival’s impact has spurred interest from numerous quarters. Four renowned universities, both public and private, from Lahore have expressed keenness to host the forthcoming edition.
The Punjab Arts Council has shown interest in expanding the cultural fiesta to other regions of the Punjab province, leveraging its existing infrastructure.
Umair Mushtaq, the head of production, looking back at the journey, shared, “Organising this festival has been a rewarding experience. Witnessing the audience’s reception to avant-garde digital art pieces, many of which were introduced to the local populace for the first time, has been truly gratifying. It’s all about nurturing an appreciation for an art form that’s continually evolving on the global stage.”
Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2023