LAHORE: The National College of Arts Degree Show 2024 is attracting a large number of visual art enthusiasts, graduates and artists, alongside students whose works are on display.

The college is radiating a rainbow of colours, with all departments showcasing their works throughout the campus.

The show, which opened on Dec 30, will remain on display until Jan 28. It features the artworks of graduating students from all departments of the institute, which have been highly appreciated by art enthusiasts.

The show provides an excellent platform for students to showcase their artistic talents. The exhibition features the works of Bachelor’s and Master’s visual art students graduating from various disciplines, including Fine Art, Visual Communication Design, Textile Design, Ceramics Design, Product Design, Architecture, Film & Television, and Musicology.

NCA Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Murtaza Jafri called the show as the most unique and creativity-driven art exhibition in Pakistan. The event highlights the works of graduates from various departments and attracts thousands of visitors annually from across Pakistan and abroad, who offer high praise for the students’ efforts.

Aqsa Ahad, a Master’s student in Visual Art, said about her work, “My art focuses on unpacking the portrayals and objectification of women in popular media, mostly local cinema and magazines. Through this exploration, I aim to highlight the issues surrounding the representation of women, fostering a deeper understanding of how they are perceived and valued in society.” She used mixed media as her medium, combining elements such as images, textures and materials to explore these portrayals.

Alia Zahra, an undergraduate student of Miniature/Visual Art, said: “My work is about personal spaces and my belongings. Initially, I started observing my surroundings and then painted my home from a bird’s-eye view to capture the miniature aesthetics. My process involves taking many pictures and then painting what I want in an arbitrary perspective, simplified to show the connection between foliage and buildings. Different spaces have their own essence due to the activities happening there. I paint my home, where I have lived my entire life—the building, the trees—everything that feels like a part of me, shaping my memory and identity.”

Kainat Atta said her work explores a profound sense of nostalgic homesickness, walking into the contradictions inherent in the concept of ‘home’. Khadija Baig’s art aims to capture the delicate balance between the fleeting nature of life and the resilience found within it. Malika Batool’s artwork explores the complexities of human relationships and the power dynamics that shape them. Maryam Baig’s work offers a close look into Pakistan’s heritage sites, approaching these historical locations as dynamic storytellers. Every weathered surface, scar, and layer in these sites bears witness to the resilience and inevitable decay that define human history.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2025