Women in ancient Gandhara

Raza R is a visual artist based in Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his BFA in 2004 and MFA in 2015 from the Punjab University College of Art and Design, Lahore. His multidisciplinary practice—spanning drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, and photography—focuses on reinterpreting the complex interplay of region, religion, culture, politics, history, and tradition in South Asia. Raza’s work often reflects a deep engagement with the layered narratives of the subcontinent, using both conventional and contemporary methods to bridge the past and present. His artworks are part of several private and institutional collections, including the permanent collection of Ambiance Boutique Art Hotels.
Raza began this body of work during his time in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while teaching Fine Arts at Women University Swabi. Immersed in research about the city and its cultural landscape, he discovered the profound historical significance of the region—home to millennia-old civilizations including Ajanta, Gandhara, the White Huns, Hund, as well as Hindu and Muslim dynasties. Frequent visits to archaeological sites in and around Swabi revealed to him the layered remnants of these ancient cultures. The excavated artifacts—mostly sculptures—left a lasting impact, evoking a deep connection to the creators of these works and the grandeur of their artistic expression.