Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, established its fine arts department in the year 2001. Initially offering only intermediate art classes, since 2003 it has expanded and progressed, offering a four-year bachelors degree. Having viewed the work of its students in the past years, one is witness to its steady progress and commitment to developing the creative potential of students opting for this subject. Interestingly, the former head of the department of fine arts, artist Rukhsana David, is now the principal of Kinnaird College, and one assumes that artistic endeavour has thus gained further impetus at this prestigious institution.

This year, the work of the graduating class of 2012 was exhibited at the Alhamra Art Gallery in Lahore, and this in itself indicates the increased sense of confidence and competence of the students and staff, who were thus able to share their efforts with the public at large. A total of 10 students exhibited their work, five specialising in miniature painting being taught by Donia Qaiser, and five in painting, under the tutelage of Sadia Pasha Kamran. The former genre had been taken up by Sirrah Ali, Anum Nadeem, Momina Rehman, Beenish Javaid, Sajal Zahid, while the latter by Ansa Asif, Anum Iftikhar, Nazia Qamer, Safa Asif and Madiha Butt.

On the whole, the themes revolved around personal narratives, as well as pressing social issues, and most displayed an admirable sensitivity to their immediate environment. Amongst the students of miniature art, Anum Nadeem’s work came out as the most sensitively rendered. Her theme, ‘Being in nothingness’, empathised with ‘the innocent souls of children who strive hard to make it through the atrocities of life’. This subject was tackled with remarkable painterly expertise, and in a manner that was deeply poignant yet beautiful. Combining stunning realism with symbolism, Nadeem was able to create timeless works of art.

The students who were into painting had opted mostly for large canvases, and the desire for experimentation was apparent. Using oil paints, digital prints as well as mixed media, a variety of styles and subject matter emerged. From experimenting with the visual impact of everyday objects, the nuances present in light and darkness, as well as the effects of temperature on objects, to the challenge of dealing with the social evil of acid attacks on women, the young students had explored both ideas and techniques.

Among these, Madiha Butt’s ‘Illusions in the dark’, presented an eerie, yet captivating approach. The large-sized canvases — some as large as eight by 10 feet in size — displayed an urge to explore uncharted terrain in a bold and daring way. Focused primarily on visual experiences in a dark environment, Butt played around with the concept of ‘reality’, so that a new, surreal vision emerged. What ensued was hauntingly dark, but fascinating, nonetheless.

The 10 young women who were the sixth batch to graduate from Kinnaird’s department of fine arts showed much promise for creative endeavour. One hopes that they will pursue their talent further and emerge as practicing artists in the future.