n immersive art installation honouring the memory of children killed in Gaza has opened in Karachi, bringing with it a deeply emotional experience centred on remembrance, loss and collective humanity.

Titled Roses of Humanity, the installation opened on April 21 at Beaumont House and will remain open to the public until April 27. The opening brought together members of Karachi’s art, corporate and social circles, many of whom gathered not only for the exhibit, but for a moment of reflection on the human cost of ongoing conflict.

The project is not new to audiences in Pakistan. It first debuted in Lahore as a standalone event before being shown at the Lahore Literature Festival, where it was widely noted for its scale and emotional impact. In Karachi, the installation continues that journey, offering a sensory experience that goes beyond visual art.

At its centre are thousands of hand-stitched fabric roses, each representing a child whose life has been lost in Gaza. Arranged like a symbolic garden, the installation is layered with soundscapes, subtle fragrance and soft lighting, creating an atmosphere that encourages visitors to pause rather than pass through.

Each rose carries a handwritten tag with the name and age of a child killed since October 7, 2023. The tags, similar to those used for young plants, strengthen the central metaphor of the installation: children as fragile lives that were growing before being cut short. Seen together, the repetition of names and ages becomes quietly overwhelming, turning statistics into something deeply personal and a heartbreaking tragedy.

The choice of the rose is deliberate. In Islamic tradition, it is often associated with beauty, spirituality and paradise. Here, it becomes a bridge between grief on earth and remembrance that extends beyond the physical world. The installation also draws a visual parallel with the Rosette Nebula, often described as a cosmic rose, suggesting a continuity between the lives lost and a larger, universal narrative.

Speaking on the occasion, curator Nuria Iqbal, shared, “Each rose is crafted from discarded fabric, once cast aside and now reborn in beauty, symbolising the forgotten lives of Gaza’s children. The varied colours and textures reflect the diversity of creation and the strength of unity amidst difference. While the installation began with 15,000 roses, representing the number of children reported killed in Gaza as of June 2024, this number is not static. More roses have been added and will continue to be added as we bear witness. Though rooted in Gaza, this work speaks to a wider human reality, of lives lost, voices unheard and the urgent need for compassion across all issues we face today. Together, these roses form a living tribute to humanity, reminding us that dignity flourishes when we are seen, heard and held in compassion.”

Beyond its artistic intent, Roses of Humanity is also tied to a larger humanitarian effort. The project, initiated by Labour & Love in collaboration with The Fundraisers BBS, aims to raise $1.5 million for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund’s (PCRF) Child Amputee Rehabilitation Programme in Gaza, linking symbolic tribute with tangible support.

The Karachi edition has been made possible through support from Beaumont House, Sapphire, The Fundraisers’ Bargain Basement Sale and Daewoo, along with digital and communications partners who have helped extend its reach.

Open to the public for a limited time, Roses of Humanity offers something that feels increasingly rare: a space to slow down, to bear witness and to engage with grief not as distant news but as something deeply human and shared.