Addressing those attending the thesis display, she explains how important self-expression, one of the main themes of the show, is.

“Self-expression allows us to understand ourselves and process our emotions in a healthy way. Art-based strategies can greatly improve mental health,” she says.

Students have incorporated overlapping elements in their artworks to show how depression, anxiety, confidence issues, fear and doubts affect them. They have used art, as a medium, to convey their life stories and struggles.

The displayed work is creative and profound in equal measure. It makes use of expressionism to relay a range of emotions; from the depression and dilemmas associated with surviving (and being young) in the present times to the dissonance caused by a clash between traditional and contemporary approaches.

The exhibition also features pottery, especially work in continuity with the age-old tradition of blue pottery which originated in Iran but has become associate with south Punjab.

Self-expression, through art, is known to relieve stress and significantly reduce anxiety, depression and suicide ideation. Art is cathartic.

Some of the pieces are critical, shedding light on how it feels to be denied free speech and expression. It is evident that the young artists are aware of how to expose the lacunae in the socio-political system, oppression, inequality and social injustice.

Namak dani [salt shaker] is one of the art installations displayed at the event. Speaking of it, artist Fatima Sughra says, “I’m quiet and reserved. I have use salt shakers to depict my personality. A namak dani holds so much salt inside but very little, only a light sprinkling, comes out of it.”

“As for the salt,” says Sughra, “you may not feel its presence but you’ll always feel its absence. The salt shaker is a lonesome piece of crockery on our dining tables. It blends into the background and is easy to ignore,” the student adds. “I made ample use of floral patterns in designing this installation. There’s a flower canopy on top as a shell, to convey how I’ve built these walls around me,” she points out.

“Besides, for me, namak dani makes for a fitting allegory for the youth too. The young generation is suffering from anxiety and depression. They do not have an outleat to express themselves. Just like the a namak dani, they carry so much inside but have no means to freely express themselves,”

“Besides, for me, namak dani is a metaphor for the youth too. The young are suffering from anxiety and depression. They do not have an outleat to express themselves. Just like the a namak dani, they carry so much inside but have no means to freely express themselves,” she says.

In Embracing Shadows, another display, Dur-i-Sameen has used coffee mugs to express her inner self. “At first glance, I come off as a confident person, like a pristine coffee mug with an angular grip. What most people don’t know is that I’m a nervous wreck. Confidence is a veneer that I hide behind,” she explains. “The act of confidently grasping the mug reflects a sense of assurance while the steaming coffee within symbolises a readiness to tackle challenges, fostering a positive and composed demeanor.

“I also used rusted metal, with its corroded and deteriorated appearance, to show anxiety. The oxidation process mirrors the gradual erosion of stability, evoking a sense of unrest and unease, much like the emotional corrosion associated with anxiety. A mirror is used to show contrast between two characteristics as it shows the opposite of what’s in front of it,” she says.

Zariya Ashraf, another student, explains the idea behind her work. It is titled Hiding Emotions. The intention behind this exhibit is to expose the hypocrisy involved in everyday interactions. “In my project, I tried to show how we pretend in front of each other; how we pretend to be okay and happy. We alone know our feelings. My chosen item of crockery is a teapot. A teapot can hide the tea in it. Everybody enjoys the pleasure that tea gives to them but, no one opens its lid to peek inside, so long as there’s tea coming out of it,” says Ashraf, adding, “I find that oddly similar to how people only come to appreciate others once they die. In my project, I glued halved teapots to the boards. They look aesthetically pleasing so everyone appreciates them. But I had to take a knife to them to split them into two. That’s sort of the idea. That nobody can feel your struggles, except for you.”

Aimen Farooq, another student, has expressed herself in Care and Comfort. The installation features a gravy boat as its central piece. “I used the gravy boat to express my trait of being caring and offering comfort to my dear ones. It is much like a nest offers warmth to the hatchlings,” she says. “The gravy boat is a metaphor for the unspoken role of providing support, much like the unseen struggles that come with being a caretaker.”

Abdur Rehman Arif, a faculty member who teaches regional craft at the theiversity, says that the display has been organised under the chairmanship of the vice-chancellor, Professor Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, to showcase art exhibits made by students of the seventh semester. “The work has surprised us all. I thank the students, the Institute of Blue Pottery Development and the TEVTA for putting up the successful show,” says Arif.

The writer is the bureau chief of The News in Multan. He may be reached at trisign69@yahoo.com