The Karachi Biennale is a city-wide art exhibition that happens every two years. It is organized by the Karachi Biennale Trust, a nonprofit set up in 2016 by artists and educators to promote creativity and critical thinking through art. The Biennale turns public parks, heritage buildings, and galleries into art spaces, making contemporary art accessible to a wide audience.

In 2024, the fourth edition—KB24—took place from October 27 to November 10 across five venues in the city. It was curated by Waheeda Baloch, a Sindhi artist and educator. The theme was “Rizq | Risk”, which looked at the balance between survival and threat. The artworks reflected issues like food security, climate change, inequality, and social justice—especially in the context of recent floods and heatwaves in Pakistan.

I worked as a visual designer for KB24. My task was to create a visual identity for the event. I drew inspiration from nature, focusing on maps, river patterns, and movement through water. I chose terracotta red to represent the urgency of environmental issues. I also used shades of teal and aqua, though I faced challenges getting the right color tone during large-scale printing. What looked good digitally didn’t always print well, and I had to experiment a lot, especially under tight deadlines.
I also played with elongated typography in the banners. On some of the heritage sites, the type made the spaces feel more interactive and open. I had a lot of fun with the tiny details that otherwise would pass but, working with artists, the only thing that matters is how much care/heart/blood/sweat and tears you put in and I believe KB24 design curation was all of it for me.
Seeing artworks across the venues—about rivers, oceans, fishing communities, food, glaciers, and local traditions—made me feel proud to be part of something meaningful. It felt good to use my design skills for a cause that mattered.