Lahore Digital Arts Festival (LDF), in collaboration with Novembre Numérique and the Alliance Française de Lahore, is pleased to announce Breathing Algorithms from November 6-9, an exhibition and public programme that will explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, climate change and cultural heritage.
The exhibition will be co-curated by Najamul Assar and Sarah Rajper, with the support of the Institut Français and the French Embassy in Pakistan.
As artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into daily life, it raises important questions about how societies produce, preserve and interpret culture. At the same time, the effects of climate change are increasingly visible, particularly in urban centres such as Lahore, where environmental pressures highlight issues of sustainability and equity. In this context, Breathing Algorithms provides a space for reflection and exchange, inviting artists and audiences to consider how technology and culture can work together to envision more sustainable and inclusive futures. The programme will feature artists from Pakistan and France, alongside technologists and cultural practitioners, through exhibitions and public conversations. Their works will address themes such as environmental justice, gender and the ethical dimensions of technology, while also exploring how creative practices can respond to challenges of climate vulnerability and cultural preservation.
“This project matters to me because it carries forward the dialogue that French and Pakistani creators have been building for years, on environmental justice, gender and the ethical dimensions of technology. The Alliance Française de Lahore and the French Embassy are proud to join forces once again with Najamul Assar and the LDF team on such a meaningful initiative” said Fabrice Disdier, Director of the Alliance Française de Lahore and Coordinator of the Alliance Française network in Pakistan.
“Breathing Algorithms is conceived as a platform where artists, technologists, and communities can come together to consider how algorithms might be re-imagined with care and responsibility at their core,” said Najamul Assar, Founding Curator of the Lahore Digital Arts Festival.
“Through cross-cultural collaboration and artistic inquiry, we hope to open new perspectives on how technology can contribute to more equitable and sustainable futures.” The exhibition and related programs will take place across several venues in Lahore, including the Alliance Française, Alhamra Arts Council, R Space and Aangun Centre for Culture, and will also form part of Nothing Fest, at the School of Visual Arts and Design, Beaconhouse National University. By engaging with both the opportunities and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and the climate crisis, Breathing Algorithms aims to encourage dialogue, inspire imagination and contribute to global conversations on cultural resilience and sustainability.