Lahore: The Lahore Biennale LB03 concluded with the Climate Congress, an initiative by the Lahore Biennale Foundation (LBF) that convened from November 2 to November 8, 2024. This event served as the closing program of the biennale’s main exhibition, “Of Mountains and Seas,” and brought together a diverse group of researchers, artists, curators, and practitioners to discuss the role of arts and humanities in promoting sustainable futures.
According to Lahore Biennale Foundation, the Climate Congress aimed to extend the discourse initiated by “Of Mountains and Seas,” focusing on ecologies and sustainable futures from Asian and Global South perspectives. Under the guidance of Iftikhar Dadi and John Tain, the Congress facilitated South-South dialogues on the potential of arts and culture to reshape societies and promote social change necessary for sustainability.
Iftikhar Dadi highlighted the Lahore Biennale’s commitment to fostering Global South perspectives and situating Lahore within broader regional contexts. The biennale’s previous editions emphasized exchanges with South Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and the African diaspora, while LB03 focused on cultural interactions with Southeast and East Asia.
The Climate Congress, characterized as a transnational forum, sought to incorporate local and indigenous perspectives, emphasizing international and interdisciplinary cooperation essential for addressing the climate crisis. Participants included researchers and artists from over 20 countries, engaging in transregional discussions on art’s role in ecological and societal transformation.
The Congress featured daily public events, including talks and discussions by notable figures such as Tamara Chin, Anna Gade, and Sugata Ray. Presentations and performances by artists, including Köken Ergun and Wong Kit Yi, were also part of the program. Additionally, collaborations with arts organizations like Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Echoes of Karoonjhar Artist Residency program enriched the event.
The initiative was supported by a grant from the Getty Foundation and organized in partnership with the Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
John Tain, curator of LB03, remarked on the significance of gathering researchers and artists in Lahore, underlining the city’s historical role as a cultural exchange hub. He emphasized the importance of fostering transnational collaborations to promote ecological ideals and expressed gratitude for the Getty Foundation’s support in facilitating the Congress.