PANG: Madyha J. Leghari | Exhibition Walkthrough

Hamiltonian Artists is pleased to present Madyha J. Leghari’s solo exhibition PANG. Leghari’s latest body of work examines the tenuous and contradictory ethos of what is deemed natural in contemporary gestational and birthing practices. It critiques firstly the “tradwife” movement, a social media–driven subculture led by housewife influencers who promote heteronormative relationships and traditional gender roles. Within this movement, Leghari argues, the construct of nature is weaponized under the guise of wellness and DIY practices to enforce submission. Simultaneously the exhibition critiques scientific dogmatism that pathologizes, surveils, and alienates the pregnant body. 

Leghari proposes a dual approach of denaturing and rewilding to navigate these tensions. Working across sculpture, installation, and printed matter, she draws upon the visual language of standardized Western maternity care and holistic wellness culture to invoke the highly charged corporeality of pregnancy. Textual, poetic elements weaved throughout the works gesture toward alternative, speculative narratives of creation and care beyond biological determinism. From the tranquil sound of flowing water to the cold grip of medical exam instruments on fabricated skin, the exhibition invites a deeply sensory and unnerving experience.

Leghari renders the maternal body a vessel for planetary reflection. Through PANG, themes of labor, intimacy, and endurance rise to the foreground—urging contemplation.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Madyha J. Leghari (b. 1991) is a visual artist, writer and educator working between Lahore, Pakistan, and Washington, DC. She earned a BFA at the National College of Arts, Lahore (2013) and an MFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (2018) through a Fulbright Scholarship. Leghari has been the recipient of the Wherewithal Research Grant; Islam & Print Fellowship; Mansion Artist Residency; Delta Research Placement at the Flat Time House; Vasl Fiction Writing Mentorship; Siena Art Institute Artist Residency and the Murree Museum Artist Residency. 

Leghari has exhibited globally at prestigious venues including the Pera Museum, Karachi Biennale, University of Colorado Boulder, Bennington College, Sea Foundation, The Institute for Experimental Arts, Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival, Images Festival, and others spanning the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Her work has found mention in the Washington Post, Artforum and The News Pakistan, amongst others. 

Leghari has written on art for a number of publications including ArtNow Pakistan and the Dawn Newspaper. Additionally, she has taught at institutions including the National College of Arts, Lahore, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, and the Beaconhouse National University, Lahore. Leghari is a 2022–2024 Hamiltonian Artists fellow.

Host or Publisher Hamiltonian Artists