A three-day fine arts project display opened on Tuesday at Government College University (GCU) Lahore, bringing the psychological trauma faced by children after parental divorce and other pressing social issues into the spotlight. Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Omer Chaudhry inaugurated the exhibition which features the creative work of 29 graduating students of the University’s Department of Fine Arts.   

A key highlight of the show is a social-issue thesis by Aamna Ali, a final-year BFA Painting student, created in a glass-on-glass mosaic format. The work narrates the emotional journey of a child coping with parental divorce and its long-term consequences. Structured as a sequence of panels, the thesis traces the child’s lived experience, including abandonment, survival pressures, and trauma, using symbolism and color to communicate psychological impact. Talking to media at the exhibition, Aamna said she selected mosaic to match the complexity of the subject. “I wanted the medium to reflect the emotional weight of the issue. Each panel carries a part of the child’s journey, and the use of color and glass helps express the trauma and loneliness,” she explained.

Another social-issue work drawing attention is by Mateen Rasheed, who explores family crises in rural communities. He used an uncommon natural surface, bark from an oud (agarwood) tree sourced from Swat, to strengthen the raw, textured feel of his narrative. “My thesis looks at how families in villages face crises and survive them. I chose this rare medium intentionally, and I dedicate this work to my father as a tribute,” he told journalists.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Prof. Omer Chaudhry said the display reflects not only student talent but also growing maturity and social responsibility, as many thesis projects engage with real social issues through thoughtful visual research. He also praised the industry-relevant design work in branding and digital campaigns, noting that portfolio-based projects strengthen employability and support the freelance and creative economy. 

Other student projects also reflected a blend of professional practice and contemporary themes. Alishba Ahmed showcased a rebranding project for a sweet cream product, saying she developed four mascot characters to help the brand connect with children and mirror different child personalities.

Zainab Bibi presented work inspired by Mughal miniature, explaining that she used historical figures to represent modern-day pressures and the obsessions of the current generation. Areeba introduced her concept of “Emotional Cartography,” using gesture and composition to represent emotions, with each section expressing a distinct feeling.

Ms. Amna Anwaar Khan, Incharge Department of Fine Arts, said the display shows how students are responding to both society and the evolving creative industry. “Our Graphic Design students are working on product-and-service communication, rebranding, and digital-era campaigns, while our Painting students are engaging with social inequalities and human psychology, including themes such as divorce-related trauma and isolation,” she said.

Beyond artistic expression, the display also reflects emerging creative entrepreneurship, as several students are already working as freelancers and building portfolio-driven services in design and digital marketing, linking creative education with employability and Pakistan’s growing creative economy.

The BFA Graphic Design projects were supervised by Ms. Amna Anwaar Khan, Mr. Yasir Javed Dogar, and Mr. Ali Raza Peerzada, while BFA Painting students completed their thesis work under the supervision of Mr. Tahir Ali Sadiq.

Media representatives, academics, students, and art enthusiasts visited the exhibition on the first day and appreciated the students’ work.