Gallery 6 opens "New Cadence," a group exhibition of 14 emerging Pakistani artists

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2026) Gallery 6 Islamabad will inaugurate a group exhibition "New Cadence" on Friday, featuring fourteen emerging Pakistani artists selected from participants of the National Biennial Arjumand Painting Award 2025.

"New Cadence" brings together a dynamic group of young artists whose practices reflect the evolving language of contemporary art in Pakistan. While the exhibition does not adhere to a single thematic framework, it is united by the presence of fresh and distinctive voices.

The title itself suggests a new rhythm, a changing pace in the way emerging artists are engaging with both personal and collective narratives.

The exhibition will feature works across diverse genres, including non-representational abstraction, figurative painting, landscape, and still life. Together, these works address a wide range of concerns such as childhood memories, women's experiences, poverty, environmental challenges, and the effects of climate change. Rather than presenting fixed conclusions, the artworks invite reflection, encouraging viewers to engage with layered meanings and subtle emotional undercurrents.

The participating artists include Aakash Rai Gahlot, Agha Jandan, Gul Hassan, Hadia Rizwan, Isra Noman, Laiba Abid, Lalarukh, Maham Mahboob, Marwa Hafeez, Mirza Zeeshan Hussain, Sana Aman, Sayed Yawar Abbas, Sidra Liaqat, and Zafar Iqbal. Each artist brings a unique perspective, contributing to a rich and varied visual dialogue.

Aakash Rai Gahlot's work explores the interplay of archive, memory, and illusion through meticulously structured compositions.

Agha Jandan engages with the transient nature of thought, using the metaphor of the chalkboard to evoke presence and erasure.

Gul Hassan reflects on vulnerability and unease through symbolic imagery, while Hadia Rizwan translates emotional experiences into sensitive figurative forms. Isra Noman investigates fragmentation and continuity, and Laiba Abid examines identity as a negotiation between inner truth and external perception.

Lalarukh's work addresses the silent transformations of women within cultural frameworks, while Maham Mahboob celebrates the emotive power of nature through expressive color and brushwork. Marwa Hafeez reflects on female interiority and quiet agency, and Mirza Zeeshan Hussain explores trauma and vulnerability through evocative contrasts.

Sana Aman creates surreal, dreamlike environments, while Sayed Yawar Abbas traces a journey from monochrome to vibrant expression. Sidra Liaqat delves into connections between the conscious and subconscious, and Zafar Iqbal captures the psychological depth of human subjects through portraiture.

Collectively, the exhibition highlights a shared attentiveness to process, material, and meaning. These artists approach painting as a space of inquiry where memory, identity, and experience are continually constructed and reinterpreted.

"New Cadence" offers audiences an opportunity to encounter a new generation of artists who are shaping the future of contemporary art in Pakistan. The exhibition is open to the public daily from 11 am to 7 pm and runs through April 14.