At the heart of When the Leaves Speak are recurring natural motifs (trees, lotus flowers, fish, and eggs) rendered with meticulous care on hand-prepared wasli paper. Together they form a quiet meditation on fragile ecosystems, on what the natural world remembers, and on how every living form depends on another. Alongside the artworks, a hands-on miniature painting workshop opens the tradition to visitors, inviting them to experience first-hand the patience and precision the form demands.
“Creating awareness of climate change through art.”
For Farrah, this aim runs through the entire exhibition, positioning a centuries-old visual language as a vehicle for one of the most urgent conversations of our time.
A Practice Rooted in Tradition
A graduate of the National College of Arts, Lahore, Farrah specializes in Asian miniature painting in the style of the Mughal miniatures of the Subcontinent, and completed her MA in Art Education at BNU in 2016. Her practice pairs this classical discipline with contemporary experimentation, engaging with socio-political concerns, particularly the abuse of power, while keeping peace and humanity at its center.
Educator, Curator & Mentor
Farrah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Design at COMSATS University Islamabad, where she founded the COMSATS Art Gallery in 2011. Through the gallery she has curated numerous exhibitions promoting local, national, and international artists, designers, and architects, work recognized with an award from the President of Pakistan in 2018. She also teaches traditional miniature painting at her studio in Islamabad and has delivered lectures and workshops in the U.K., U.S.A., Austria, France, and China.
International Recognition
Her career spans five solo shows and more than 160 group exhibitions across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. In March 2024, she received the President’s Award for Pride of Performance, following BNU’s Excellence Award in December 2023. Her honors include the Charles Wallace Visiting Fellowship (U.K.) and residencies supported by the Austrian Federal Chancellery and CAMAC France, while her work is held in permanent collections including the World Bank in Washington, D.C., the National Art Gallery, and the Parliament House of Pakistan.
