Dandan Rand by Bandah Ali

Tamgha-e-Imtiaz

Bandah Ali · the dancing colours of Thar

World ofcolours

New from the studio

Latest work

Sema (2021), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Light from Above · 2021

Under one light

A solo dancer under a single light, built entirely from gold and sepia tiles.

Makli (2025), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

The only grey one

Makli

Self-taught
since age nine

Where

Thar
parkar

The desert of Sindh, where the ghagras are brighter than anywhere else in Pakistan.

Solo shows, Lahore & Karachi

Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (President's Medal of Excellence)

Violet Hour (2022), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Violet Hour2022

Chakkar Rand II (2023), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Chakkar Rand II2023

Full Moon (2023), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Full Moon2023

Sub Rang I (2020), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Sub Rang I2020

Temple Arches (2024), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Temple Arches2024

Rasooro (2023), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Rasooro2023

Mitko (2023), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Light Burst (2022), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Light Burst2022

Four dances

I / IVGroup · circle

Dandan
Rand

Group · circle. Hands joined, a ring that widens as the drum quickens.

Dandan Rand, 2024

Dandan Rand (2024), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

II / IVPairs · soft

Mitko

Pairs · soft. The gentlest of the four, danced close, with flowers in the dust.

Mitko (2023), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

III / IVSolo · spin

Chakkar
Rand

Solo · spin. The ghagra opens into a full wheel and the tiles scatter with the hem.

Chakkar Rand II, 2023

Chakkar Rand II (2023), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

IV / IVSticks · daandiyaan

Rasooro

Sticks · daandiyaan. Arms high, the sticks strike on the beat under an archway.

Rasooro (2023), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Shows

Reflection Of Thoughts

Ocean Art gallery · Karachi

Cultural Blossoms

Artciti Gallery · Karachi

Dancing Colours

Artciti Gallery · Karachi

Hamail Art Gallery · LahoreDawn · EOS

Colours of Life

ArtOne62 · LahoreThe Friday Times

Bandah Ali, wearing the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, shaking hands at the award ceremony

Honour

Tamgha‑e‑Imtiaz

The President’s Medal of Excellence, conferred on Bandah Ali by the Government of Pakistan.

About the artist →

Reading

Dawn · EOS · 18 July 2021

The Dance of Joy

An explosion of colour on black-and-white walls: Dawn reviews Sub Rang at Hamail Art Gallery, Lahore.

The Friday Times · 17 January 2020

Of Sand, Light and Dance

The Friday Times on Colours of Life at ArtOne62: Thari women, light from above, and a gesture or two from kathak.

Studio · 10 November 2024

The four dances of Thar

Dandan rand, mitko, chakkar rand, rasooro. What each one looks like, and how I paint it.

@bandahaliarts

All posts Follow

Makli (2025) · Oil on canvas. Two dancers under a dark archway, painted in grey

Sub Rang I (2020) · Oil on canvas. A row of dancers mid-spin, the leading ghagra

Sema (2021) · Oil on canvas. A solo dancer under a single light, built entirely

Sub Rang II (2020) · Oil on canvas. The same row of dancers, now led by a ghagra

Violet Hour (2022) · Oil on canvas. Five dancers, hands raised, lit from above i

Light Burst (2022) · Oil on canvas. A line of dancers around a white centre, blu

Chakkar Rand (2022) · Oil on canvas. A companion to Light Burst: the same line o

Mitko (2023) · Oil on canvas. Five dancers above a scatter of pink and orange fl

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Take one home

Original canvases, one of one, by enquiry. Ships from Karachi, worldwide.

Collect by enquiry

Turquoise Hem (2024), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Turquoise Hem2024

Scattered Petals (2025), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

Scattered Petals2025

White Arch (2025), Oil on canvas, by Bandah Ali

White Arch2025