The Vision
The idea for the exhibition came from local curator Rameesha Azeem, who envisioned a space where the industrial heritage of the shoe factory could intersect with contemporary art. Drawing inspiration from the factory’s rich history, she curated a collection of works that explored themes of labor, craftsmanship, identity, and transformation. The exhibition sought to connect the historical narrative of the factory with the broader human story of resilience and creativity.
The Artists and Themes
The Factory Project 01 featured over 30 local artists and writers, many of whom had been residents of Lahore. Sculptors, painters, photographers, and installation artists were invited to interpret the theme through various media. Some artists used repurposed materials from the factory itself—old leather scraps, metal tools, and wooden shoe lasts—to create their works, while others focused on the human side of the factory’s history, portraying the workers whose hands crafted the shoes
Highlights included a large-scale installations by artist Mahbub Jokhio who transformed an entire storage space into a walk-through experience that mimicked the warehouse of the factory. His work juxtaposed the repetitive motions of shoe packaging with the meditative quality of art creation. Another standout was Faizan Naveed, whose upside down tree was displayed inside the chemical plant hanging in the middle from the high rise tin ceiling, evoking a powerful sense of environmental crisis.
The Space
The exhibition utilized the factory’s raw industrial aesthetic to its advantage. The weathered brick walls, exposed beams, corrugated tin warehouses and expansive open floor plan became an integral part of the experience, creating an immersive atmosphere that blurred the line between art and environment. Visitors could still smell the faint traces of leather and PU in the air, and the distant echo of footsteps on the factory floor added to the sense of history in the space.
Special attention was given to retaining the factory’s identity, and even the machinery and labour remained operational, giving visitors a full experience into the working of a shoe factory. The assembly lines were used to hang art, and shoe-making tools were kept intact alongside sculptures and installations in their own right, highlighting the artistry that went into both the manufacturing process and the curated pieces on display.
Community Impact
The exhibition not only honored the Shoe Factory itself but also revitalised interest in the building itself. The success of The Factory Project 01 sparked conversations about ingratiating the factory as a cultural space. For many in the community, the exhibition was a celebration of the industry’s labour force, a way to excite and engage them while looking forward to new possibilities to work with more factories in future. The exhibition also drew hundreds of visitors from around the area inviting families of labour workers as an equal part of an engaged art audience. Engineers, chemists, electrical engineers, colourists and many more skilled employees of the factory were involved thoroughly with the making and installing of the works. The event was not only a tribute to the industrial sector but also a testament to the enduring spirit of creativity that continues to thrive within the community.
Legacy
The Factory Project 01 is the first of many exhibitions to be held at the a factory, setting the precedent for what can become a local tradition of hosting art events in industrially significant spaces. Its success has inspired future collaborations between artists and curators, blending art with local workers and industry in a way that resonates with the community.