LAHORE: Thesis display by students of the Government College for Women, Gulberg at the Alhamra Art Center, The Mall, attracted art fanciers, students of various institutions and visual art faculty of the college.

The works by 13 students represent various facets of life with strong individualistic approach focusing both on their personal experiences with psychological undertones to social issues in a generalised way. The students have expressed a wide variety of subjects through their works.

Farkhanda Illyas’s paintings have an analysis of criticism that is done in society. The artist has tried to portray positive aspect of criticism to overcome her inner fears. She also portrays different levels of criticism woven into negative or positive emotions.

Fatima Awan has tried her hand on narcissism. Her works are a reflection of narcissism. She has expressed the inner need of self praise and admiration through her work.

Hina Khalid through her painting tries to portray the conflict between mind and heart while Laraib Haider in her paintings has come up with a strong comment on public transport condition in Lahore.

Maida Wadood’s thesis work is also a strong comment on society. The artist says, “In a patriarchal society like ours the importance of a male child or son is important than daughters. Being a daughter myself I have experienced this discrimination throughout my life and therefore my thesis topic is reflection of my personal experiences as a daughter.”

Ms Wadood has tried to represent the struggle and hard work of a daughter through the super strength of ants.

Rabia Imtiaz’s topic is isolation. She has tried to explore this very dimension of isolation in which one is left surrounded by depression at times. Rumeesa Rashid explores something which is transcendental in existence and is more related to feelings.

Sarah Arif Khan has come up with the expression of personal understanding of apparitions and translating them into visuals.

Syeda Sherbano’s love for architectural beauty and nostalgia made her express the architecture of some churches, broader perspectives and arches. Warda Sadaqat’s painting is about nature and birds.

Taiba Frooq’s topic is nostalgia which she shows in her work through culture, nature and beauty. Naila Aslam’s paintings are about hijab and the artist has tried to convey the fact through her works that without hijab her personality is not complete and it gives her an identity of her own.

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2018