Date: Sunday, 17 May 2026
Time: 4 – 5:30 PM (GST)
Venue: The Common Room, WH 51, Alserkal Avenue & via Zoom
Open to the public. No pre-registration required. Seating subject to availability.
Ishara Art Foundation presents the launch of Ali Kazim: Alphabet Book | Urdu Qaida, a new publication by Ali Kazim and Hammad Nasar, published by Ochre Books. Marking the UAE release of the book, the event brings together Kazim, Nasar, and publisher Anita Dawood for a conversation moderated by independent writer and researcher Saira Ansari.
Ali Kazim: Alphabet Book | Urdu Qaida was developed alongside Urdu Worlds, Ishara’s current exhibition curated by Nasar that stages a visual dialogue between Kazim and legendary printmaker Zarina. The book juxtaposes the Urdu alphabet with selected artworks from Kazim’s materially expansive practice exploring the histories, legends and landscapes of South Asia – many of which are currently on view in the exhibition.
The conversation traces the collaborative process between artist and curator in realizing the book, how its design language evolved, and the audiences it hopes to engage – from readers encountering Urdu for the first time to those familiar with its cadences. The discussion also offers insights into the relationship between the publication and the exhibition, where it is presented as an extension of the show’s conceptual framework.
The book launch is followed by a tour of Urdu Worlds at Ishara, led by Sasha Altaf, Director of the Foundation.
This is a hybrid event with Ali Kazim, Hammad Nasar and Anita Dawood participating virtually.
The event is in conjunction with Urdu Worlds, on view at Ishara Art Foundation from 16 January – 8 June 2026.
With special thanks to Alserkal Arts Foundation for their support.
