Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, in collaboration with the Sindh Culture Department and Visionary Art Alliance, organized an exhibition titled “Hundred Heroes” at the Ahmed Parvez Art Gallery. The exhibit, created by artist Saher Shah Rizvi, honors 100 notable figures from Pakistan’s history through a series of portraits.
The exhibition was inaugurated by the Provincial Minister of Culture, Tourism, Antiquities, and Archives, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, who praised Rizvi’s work and her tribute to these heroes. Accompanied by artists Saher Shah Rizvi and Farrukh Shahab, the minister highlighted Saher’s contributions to Sindh’s culture, particularly noting her use of the Sindhi Ajrak motif in each of her pieces.
He emphasized that gatherings like these celebrate the cultural richness of Sindh and encouraged young people to take part in cultural exchanges. Shah further added that art is a powerful medium for promoting peace and unity in a time of discord, commending Rizvi for her effort to promote these values through her art.
He also mentioned upcoming initiatives to promote young Sindhi artists through talent hunts. Saher Shah Rizvi, the artist behind the exhibit, expressed her gratitude to the Arts Council for their support. She revealed that she had spent the last five years working on this project, aiming to preserve the legacies of these heroes for future generations. She emphasized that art serves as a vital medium for passing down the stories of these great personalities, and this marks the first time such an extensive collection of portraits has been displayed together in Pakistan.
The exhibition features portraits of iconic figures such as Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Fatima Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Abdul Sattar Edhi, Major Aziz Bhatti (Shaheed), Zia Mohyeddin, Saadat Hasan Manto, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Bulleh Shah, Sachal Sarmast, Pakistan’s first female fighter pilot Maryam Mukhtiar, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Noor Jehan, Alan Fakir, Parveen Shakir, Jaun Elia, Syed Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi, Amar Jaleel, Nazia Hassan, Bhagat Singh, Arfa Karim, Muneeba Mazari, and many more.
