KARACHI: Art is no longer a separate entity, but it is paired up with logic, science and other mediums, which has made it accessible and comparatively more fun. This is what Habib University’s Final Year Project Display emphasised on Saturday.

The campus was filled with colours and curiosity. Students came together to appreciate the ideas of their friends and fellows. Themes of mental health, innovation in technology, AI integration and gender stood out.

The audience was captivated by Zayna’’s work ‘Mental Monsters’ for its remarkable relatability factor. In her thesis, she explored mental illnesses using the metaphor of ‘monsters’, symbolising how they can overpower individuals. Notably, she portrayed Body Dysmorphia through a mirror, reflecting the dissatisfaction with one’s body shape. Similarly, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) was depicted as an octopus. Adding a personalised touch, she shared her own struggles with anxiety as part of her presentation.

“I was anxious in my preteens and my monsters grew up with me, so my thesis is my step towards normalising mental health conversations in bigger and smaller circles,” she said. Her thesis also had a board where people pasted the monsters they battled with.

Another noteworthy thesis presentation occurred in a room where Taylor Swift’s “Sparks Fly” was playing, engaging the audience as they sang along with the lyrics. This presentation, conducted by Rameen, was portraying the room of a 13-year-old ‘fan’. Rameen skillfully integrated the concept of ‘fan theory’ with psychology, captivating the audience as she moved around the room, elaborating on the connections between the two.

“Teenagers have an obsessive behaviour towards celebrities because in that age, one’s personality is not fully developed. Hence, they adopt the personalities of the people they see over the internet. They’d introduce themselves as ‘Swifties’ (people who’re fans of Taylor Swift) and ‘Directioners’ (people who’re fans of One Direction, an American band). It impacts everything, from the way they dress to the way they talk,” she told Dawn.

She adorned the room with a vibrant display, featuring walls adorned with pictures of One Direction and Taylor Swift in shades of pink and purple. Notably, she crafted a unique dressing table where, instead of a mirror, a picture of Taylor Swift was placed, symbolising the girl’s aspiration to emulate her idol in every facet of her life.

Another interesting display was by Aimen, whose thesis was about Jugaad (non-conventional, frugal innovation, often termed as a ‘hack’). It commenced with humorous exhibits of viral memes, such as the image of a man attempting to fry an egg on an iron due to frequent gas load shedding in Karachi. Ultimately, the presentation concluded by highlighting the systemic faults that compel individuals to resort to shortcuts.

“My idea was to get to the root cause of the problem. Now you see people will resort to ‘easy solutions’ when their problems won’t be solved through proper channels,” she explained.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2024