Alliance Française de Lahore opened its gallery to art enthusiasts on August 10, 2026, for “What’s Remains,” a new exhibition curated by Anne Sophie Français.
The exhibition brings together works by three emerging Pakistani visual artists — Rabya Khalid, Sarim Syed and Yumna Salman — who explore themes of memory, place, absence and the traces people leave behind.
Rabya Khalid’s work uses rich cyanotype blues combined with soft pastels and coloured pencils. Her artwork focuses on urban architectural structures, including water towers, rooftops and watchtowers, presenting them as silent witnesses to everyday human activity.
Sarim Syed works primarily with charcoal, creating atmospheric and dreamlike landscapes that explore the boundary between remembering and forgetting. His pieces reflect the emotional experience of places that were once occupied but now exist mainly through memory.
Yumna Salman presents textile-based installations that combine loose threads with rigid metal wire mesh. Through traditional weaving techniques, her work examines inherited social norms, gender roles and collective memory, turning the physical act of knotting into a form of quiet resistance.
The exhibition was followed by a 7:30pm Kathak performance, adding another artistic dimension to the evening. Dance students presented a performance shaped by rhythm, classical movement and expressive storytelling, creating a dialogue between the movement of the dancers and the themes explored through the artwork.
Through “What’s Remains,” Alliance Française de Lahore continues its role as a platform for emerging Pakistani artists and cultural exchange. The exhibition encourages visitors to consider what remains after a place has been left behind, a voice has been silenced or a memory has faded.
