Studio RM is an initiative founded in 1994 by RM Naeem, an acclaimed visual artist and educator in Pakistan. The studio was established with the aim of fostering the exchange of knowledge and experience, and encouraging positive change in society through art and art-related activities. Over the years, Studio RM has played a vital role in nurturing and mentoring emerging artists from Pakistan, offering a supportive space to grow, reflect, and engage in meaningful artistic discourse. In 2008, RM Studio began an international residency program to encourage cross-cultural dialogue through artist exchanges. In extension of educational pursuits and mentorship, Studio RM curates exhibitions that respond to contemporary concerns.

One of its recent projects, Beyond DNA, led by Sadaf Naeem and Saulat Ajmal, brought together contemporary artists from Pakistan and the diaspora, focusing on shared histories, layered identities, and personal narratives. The exhibition extended Studio RM’s ongoing commitment to widening the conversation around Pakistani art, generating new questions and connections across geographies.

Curated art shows are essential because they create a meaningful framework for how we experience and understand art. A well-curated exhibition isn’t just educational—it’s emotional and aesthetic, creating an environment that heightens the impact of the artworks themselves.

Beyond DNA is an extraordinary exhibition that brings together an outstanding lineup of celebrated artists from across Pakistan and the diaspora. The artists challenge us to consider the ethical, philosophical, and aesthetic dimensions of DNA, encouraging a deeper understanding of the code that underlies existence. Promising to provoke, inspire, and spark meaningful dialogue, the exhibition delves into the intricate relationships between genetic coding, identity, humanity, self-portraits, and each artist’s signature style of working.

Comprising practitioners who have been at their craft their whole life, the exhibition includes senior artists like Meher Afroz and Talat Dabir, icons who have worked across multiple decades. This show also introduced the genre of photography to the platform with notable names such as Amean J and Tapu Javeri—a rare sight in similar exhibitions. Sculptors and multimedia artists like Ruby Chishti, Nausheen Saeed, Farida Batool, Jamil Baloch, Shiblee Muneer, and Amra Khan brought a dynamic range of media into the spotlight. Of course, the exhibition also featured painters and miniaturists including Ahmed Javed, Farhat Ali, Rahat Ali, and Rabeya Jalil.

This is the first of a series of three shows that took place at O Art Space, on April 18th, 2025. The next two shows will be hosted in Islamabad in September and in Karachi in December. In an effort to take this idea across the country and include artists from all over as well as from the diaspora, each edition will feature new works and new artists. Studio RM’s goal is for art and artists to be celebrated not just for a fleeting moment, but to leave a lasting impact on the minds of viewers.

CAPTION
Talat Dabir, Untitled, Pen & Ink on paper, 10.25 x 16 inches, 2025
Ahmed Javed, Lion Rock, Gouache on wasli, 21 x 13.5 inches each, 2025
Amean J, Seascapes, UV print on Canson, Papier Blanc 180 gsm, 5 x 2 inches, 2025
Amra Khan, Alam Khana, Cotton thread on Semi Sheer cotton-poly blend fabric, 66 x 30 inches, 2025
Rabeya Jalil, Portrait 2, Acrylic on canvas, 12 x 12 inches, 2025
Farhat Ali, Self Portrait, Gouache on wasli, 13 x 10.5 inches, 2025
Meher Afroz, Kehkashan e Neesti 1, Acrylic, silver leaf, thread on Arches paper, 18 x 10 inches, 2025
Tapu Javeri, KaraChakra Festival, Digital print on canvas with gold leaf and acrylic, 30 x 30 inches, 2025
Rahat Ali, Stone Dust, Stone dust, wood ash and graphite on paper, 22 x 18 inches, 2025