PROVINCE REPORT
ISLAMABAD: The Virtual and Extended Reality (VXR) Festival opened at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Islamabad, on Friday, bringing together Pakistani and international artists, cultural representatives, students and art enthusiasts to explore the emerging world of immersive digital art.
The festival was formally inaugurated by French Ambassador to Pakistan Jean-Noël Poirier at an evening ceremony attended by diplomats, artists and members of the public. PNCA Director General Ayoub Jamali welcomed the distinguished guests, alongside French Cultural Attaché Zakaria Haffar.
Visitors experienced immersive digital environments created by artists from Pakistan and abroad through virtual reality (VR) headsets.
The Islamabad edition, titled Between the Prompts, is curated by Festival Director Dr. Najam Ul Assar, with Sarah Rajper as co-curator and Zainab Amir as assistant curator.
Dr. Najam Ul Assar said the festival aimed to encourage local and international artists to use extended reality as a medium for exploring memory, critical thinking and creative expression rather than merely consuming imported technology.
Co-curator Sarah Rajper said each city hosting the festival contributed to its curatorial vision, adding that the Islamabad edition offered audiences an opportunity to experience immersive art as a shared space for exploring memory, presence and belonging.
Featuring works by more than 70 artists, VXR showcases the creative possibilities of virtual and extended reality while encouraging audiences to engage with emerging technologies as active participants in artistic expression and cultural exchange.
The festival is organised by the Lahore Digital Arts Festival team with support from international cultural partners, including the Embassy of France, Embassy of Spain, Institut Français and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
VXR is a travelling festival without a permanent venue. Following its week-long programme in Lahore and Islamabad edition, the festival will move to Karachi.
Through exhibitions and immersive experiences, the festival explores themes of memory, identity, imagination and the evolving relationship between humans and technology.
