The thesis show of MA Art & Design Studies at the Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD), Beaconhouse National University (BNU) opened here on Monday. According to a press release, the thesis show features works of nine graduating artists of the MA Art & Design (ADS) programme, including Aleem Dad Khan, Hilal Ahmad Khan (Azha Khan), Javeria Ahmed, Minaa Haroon, Noor Yousuf, Pradeep Thalawatta, Sana Durrani, Sundas Matloob Rana and Zil-e-Batool.
Speaking on the occasion, the world-famous digital artist and Dean, SVAD, Prof Rashid Rana said, “Probing the research questions that originated in their art or design studio practice, the students undertook projects that addressed humanistic, semantic, ontological and socio-cultural issues. In these imaginative and intellectual quests, they broadened their topics of inquiry, through studio practice, writing and reading”.
Commenting on the show, Director UMISAA (UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Institute of South Asian Arts) at BNU, Prof Salima Hashmi said, “The deeply felt environmental allegiance of Aleem Dad contrasts with probing of curator-artist relationship by Sundas Matloob. This is not simply a question of pursuing one’s aptitude, be it the pleasure of object making, as in the work of Zil-e-Batool, or about an inquiry into social constraints by Javeria Ahmed, or indeed the courage to delve into one’s inner being, demonstrated by Noor Yousuf. All this is about conviction and rigour. Alongside this are the harrowing and unforgiving videos of Hilal Khan. There are instances of ingenuity coupled with analysis and contemplation provided by Pradeep Thalawatta, who assembles materials with dexterity. Sana Durrani has worked through many layers of her preoccupation with particular spaces and like Minaa Haroon, brings her work to the stage of resolution.” The thesis show will continue till January 28 and will be open to public daily between 10am and 4pm at Mariam Dawood School of Visual Arts and Design, BNU Tarogil Campus, Raiwind Road, Lahore.