Bio
Asad Ali Zulfiqar (b. 1995, Karachi) is a new media artist, exploring ways of finding compassion for ourselves and others as a response to the prevailing political climate in their practice. Their work revolves around belonging (or not belonging), to our communities, lineages, built and natural environments, languages, mazhab and khud/a.
They are the recipient of the 2022 Prince Claus Seed Award, and the 2023 Rhizome Microgrant. In 2021, they won the Kurachee Tiny Publication Grant for their zine, 'Come Back Down to Earth' which has been selected to be a part of Jameel Library's collection at the e Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai. They hold a BA in Communication & Design from Habib University, Karachi.
Currently, they’re an artist-in-residence at two British Council-sponsored artist residencies: the Belonging/Disbelonging virtual residency, a collaboration between The New Art Gallery Walsall and IVS, Karachi, and New Narratives in Photography residency, a collaboration between Tasweerghar, Lahore and the Birmingham-based GRAIN Projects.
Publications
2023
Notes from 2020, in Queers in Quarantine: Anthology. Mohini Books, Norway
Thoughts that Keep Sakina Sleepless, in kal FICTIONS (Coming soon)
2022
notes from 2020, and recipe for a love potion, in Queerabad’s Tilt, India
2021
Asad Ali Zulfiqar, in Roots & Routes magazine, UK
The Dharma of Rooj Hussain, in Mil Ke Chai Art Paper, UK
Come Back Down to Earth, comissioned by Kurachee, Pakistan
2018
Gender Mobility, on Who Gets to Talk About Whom, Pakistan
everyone, in Queerabad's Tilt, India
2017
Unappetizing Bodies, in Queerabad's Tilt, India
Performances
2023
Dastaangoi, a little mine, a little yours, a little ours, CFAW, Karachi
Urdu translation of Awais, a re-introduction of my name. Open Mic, Spoken Stage, فنِ وجود Art of Being, CFAW, and Poetry for فلسطین, KCR, Karachi
2022
COMMUNE, Things Mana Host, Karachi
2021
Queer Art Exchange: Campfire Edition, Gay Gaze Bombay, India
Pride Fest, Helping Hand International, India
Saanjh, Reform The Norm, India
COVID-19 Fundraiser Open Mic, Forbidden Verses, India
2020
Lifestream, Thane Queer Collective, India
2018
Gender Moblity and Politics on Site, Who Gets to Talk About Whom, Karachi
Exhibitions
2023
Mindscape, CFAW, Karachi
AiiA Festival 2023, Geneva
The Looking Glass, LUMS, Lahore
इंqueerलाब, Queer Feminist Collective, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, University of Dehli, India
2022
Reading Room, AAN Art Space & Museum x Kurachee, Karachi
Zine Scene Festival, CFAW, Karachi
2021
Come Back Down To Earth, Library collection at Jameel Arts Centre, Dubai, UAE
Zinefest Koeln 2021, Germany
Trans Futures Archive, After Party Collective, ISCP, Brooklyn, NY
Kurachee at COMO Museum, Lahore
2017
Rang Saazi, Lahore Music Meet, Alhamara Arts Council, Lahore
2016
The HU Experience, Habib University, Karachi
2015
Karachiscape, Habib University, Karachi