Art as resistance: Tahir Zaman’s “Beauty & Pain” opens at Alliance Française de Lahore

Lahore: The Alliance Française de Lahore is set to host an evocative and deeply reflective solo art exhibition titled “Beauty & Pain” by acclaimed contemporary artist Tahir Zaman – curated by Anne-Sophie Francais-, opening on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 6:30 PM at La Galerie. The exhibition will continue till 5 of June 12 to 5pm.

According to Director of Alliance Francais Mr Fabrice Disdier and Curator Anne-Sophie Francais-, in this striking new body of work, Zaman explores the fragile intersection of aesthetic allure and human suffering, confronting audiences with the piercing reality of how beauty often conceals trauma, privilege, and struggle. Using rose thorns as both medium and metaphor, the artist constructs haunting installations that mirror societal structures—inviting viewers into a landscape where every bloom carries its own wound.

Zaman’s work is both poetic and political. It deftly navigates themes of power, class, and environmental collapse, offering a subtle yet cutting critique of systems that sustain inequality. As visitors move through the gallery space, they are drawn into an experience that is immersive, raw, and meditative—a visceral reminder that beauty, often celebrated, can also be a site of pain and resistance.

“Beauty & Pain” does not offer conclusions; instead, it opens up uncomfortable but necessary questions—about what we choose to see, and what remains hidden beneath the surface of comfort and privilege.

The exhibition at Alliance Française, a cultural cornerstone in Lahore, is expected to draw art enthusiasts, critics, and thinkers alike, providing a rare opportunity to engage with one of Pakistan’s most thought-provoking contemporary voices.