LAHORE: Step into Lahore’s Tollinton Block, and you enter a space that has witnessed over 160 years of history. Built in 1864 to host the Great Punjab Exhibition, this iconic building later became known as Tollinton Market, serving as a bustling municipal bazaar for decades. Its walls have seen the city evolve through colonial rule, independence, and modernization.
Now, after being handed over to the National College of Arts (NCA) in October 2019, Tollinton has been reborn as a cultural and arts venue, hosting exhibitions, workshops, and events that celebrate both heritage and contemporary creativity.
Today, the building hums with renewed energy as it houses NCA’s Triennale 2025: Kasb‑e‑Kamal Kun, a festival of art, design, performance, and heritage. The exhibition transforms Tollinton into a vibrant stage for creative expression, bridging Lahore’s layered past with the innovative vision of NCA’s faculty and students.
While Tollinton’s story stretches back to the mid-19th century, NCA’s journey began a little later, in 1875, as the Mayo School of Industrial Arts. From its earliest days, NCA has nurtured artists, designers, and craftsmen, guiding them to contribute to Pakistan’s cultural identity. Unlike Tollinton, which was originally a public exhibition hall and then a market, NCA has always been an educational institution dedicated to the arts.
The two histories intersected only recently. In 2019, NCA assumed stewardship of Tollinton, initiating restoration efforts to transform the historic market into a modern exhibition space while preserving its architectural character. This partnership marks the beginning of a new chapter: a centuries-old building finding new life as a venue for Pakistan’s oldest art school.
Inside Tollinton, the Triennale 2025 unfolds as both a celebration and a reflection. The exhibition primarily showcases faculty work, offering a window into the depth, diversity, and innovation that NCA cultivates.
Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital at the gallery, Zoreen Murtaza, lecturer at NCA and former student, reflected on the exhibition:
“NCA has a long and remarkable history. Before partition, it was an industrial arts school employing craftsmen under colonial rule. After partition, it became a national institution, welcoming students from all over Pakistan. I was once a student here, and now I teach here. This exhibition asks a larger question: after 150 years, what has NCA contributed to our country’s culture, heritage, identity, and sense of belonging?”
The works on display are striking in their variety. Some celebrate color, heritage, and tradition; others examine environmental challenges, politics, and popular culture. From paintings and sculptures to photography and mixed-media installations, the exhibition offers a panoramic view of Pakistan’s creative expression and the issues that inspire its artists.
Tollinton’s historic architecture frames each work, giving visitors a sense of continuity between past and present. The tall arched windows, aged brick walls, and wide halls amplify the visual impact of the artworks, making the exhibition both immersive and contemplative.
Murtaza summed it up beautifully as she noted that “Through these works, we show students what we have to offer, how far we have come, and how we continue to build a creative community. This exhibition is a celebration of history, innovation, and the unbroken spirit of creativity that defines NCA.”
The Triennale 2025 at Tollinton Block is more than an exhibition. It is a dialogue across generations, a bridge between a historic space and a contemporary institution, and a celebration of 150 years of NCA’s contribution to Pakistan’s cultural landscape. Here, visitors experience how heritage buildings and creative minds together can inspire, educate, and celebrate a nation’s identity.
Tollinton, once a market and exhibition hall, and NCA, a cradle of artistic talent, now converge to tell a story that is centuries in the making, reminding Lahore and Pakistan that art is both timeless and living.
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