NEW YORK: A hand-painted animation by Pakistani artist Eeman Masood is being showcased nightly this February on the iconic billboards of Times Square, New York City, as part of Times Square Arts’ “Midnight Moment” programme.
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The piece, titled Listen, is displayed every night from 11:57 pm to 12:00 am across 96 screens, giving viewers a brief but mesmerizing glimpse of Masood’s intricate artistry. Speaking on Geo News programme Geo Pakistan, Masood said her practice stems from miniature and watercolour painting, which she studied at the National College of Arts (NCA) in Pakistan. She later incorporated her hand-painted techniques into animation during her master’s at the University of Victoria in Canada.
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Listen depicts the quiet generosity and endurance of the natural world. At its center is an ancient banyan tree, surrounded by shimmering particles that blur the line between the earthly and celestial. Every detail, from the tree to the peacocks, was meticulously hand-painted before animation. The accompanying soundtrack, featuring flute and santur, was composed by her friend and NCA senior, Mujeeb, specifically for this project.
Masood shared that the banyan tree motif was inspired by a visit to Lahore in 2023, where she encountered a tree often referred to as a “tree of blessing.” Despite being neglected and covered with advertisements, it continued to provide shade and shelter to passersby, reflecting resilience and quiet generosity—key themes in her work.
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She described the selection process for Times Square Arts as highly competitive, with multiple rounds of review before her work was approved. The artist expressed pride that a Pakistan-trained miniature painter’s work is being presented in one of the world’s most visible public art spaces.