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Rashid Rana resigns as artistic director of inaugural Lahore Biennale over vision disagreements

institutional · 2026-04-20

Rashid Rana has resigned from his role as artistic director for the first Lahore Biennale, citing differing views on the project's vision with the Lahore Biennale Foundation. The foundation announced the departure via social media, describing it as amicable but noting an inability to formalize a collaborative agreement. Rana was appointed curator in March 2016, with the exhibition originally scheduled for November 2017 but later postponed. In May 2016, he outlined his curatorial approach in New York, emphasizing an evolving process over a fixed product and aiming to challenge traditional biennale formats by exploring artist-public dynamics. The foundation has assured that none of Rana's ideas or methodologies will be used in future exhibitions, though specifics about the biennale's future remain unaddressed.

Key facts

  • Rashid Rana quit as artistic director of the first Lahore Biennale
  • The Lahore Biennale Foundation cited differing views on the vision
  • The parting was described as amicable but no formal agreement was reached
  • Rana was appointed curator in March 2016
  • The exhibition was initially set for November 2017 but postponed
  • Rana presented his vision in New York in May 2016
  • His approach focused on questioning biennale formats and artist-public dichotomies
  • The foundation stated Rana's ideas will not be used in future exhibitions

Entities

Artists

  • Rashid Rana

Institutions

  • Lahore Biennale Foundation

Locations

  • Lahore
  • Pakistan
  • New York
  • United States

Sources