Digital Echoes, an art exhibition organized by Synergy – A Cambridge Schools Community showcased the creative talents of over 100 students from grades 9 to 11 across Cambridge Schools.
Held at the prestigious St. Michael’s Convent School, this event invited viewers to explore the profound impact of digitization and artificial intelligence (AI) on our lives and communities.
Participating Schools
The exhibition featured stunning artwork from talented students of the following schools:
- Karachi Grammar School
- Ladybird Grammar School
- Jaffar Public School
- Mama Parsi School
- Progressive Public School
- Sea View Academy
- Paul’s English High School
- DHACSS Creek Campus
- DHACSS Seaview Campus
- St. Michael’s Convent School
Digital Echoes Event Highlights
Curated by Mr. Carl Lander, Chair of Synergy, and Ms. Nausheen Hammad, Secretary of Synergy, the event was graced by the esteemed Ms. Nilofer Farrukh, CEO of Karachi Biennale, as the Guest of Honour.
The jury panel included Senior Judge Ms. Nurayah Sheikh, along with judges Ms. Aisha Mahmood and Mrs. Farhat Kapadia Mehboob, who evaluated the submissions based on artistic excellence, emotional resonance, and thematic relevance.
The theme, focusing on the impact of digitization and AI, inspired students to express their thoughts, fears, and hopes about our rapidly changing world.
From AI’s influence on mental health to the potential of a tech-dominated future, the artworks provided a thought-provoking glimpse into the minds of today’s youth.
A Legacy of Creativity
The exhibition, now in its second season, was initially launched by Naseema Kapadia, the former Chairperson of Synergy. Her vision was to involve students as part of the Synergy Community platform. Additionally it would create a space where students could freely express their creativity and voice their perspectives.
The reason for choosing art was because it provides a great medium for expression and communicating the thought processes in the minds of the young. It’s also a great platform to showcase talent and encourages confidence building .
Last year, the best artworks were transformed into gift card illustrations, a novel idea by Ms. Kapadia that was met with enthusiasm. This creative initiative highlighted student talent and inspired others to explore the arts.
Reflecting on the Theme
At this year’s exhibition, Mr. Carl Lander, Principal of Karachi Grammar School and Chair of Synergy, shared his reflections on the students’ messages.
He found it thought-provoking because whilst younger people mostly live in a digital world they seem to perceive it as having negative effects on mental health and depicting a world that may be taken over by AI. He remarked that maybe a re-evaluation needs to be considered on this aspect.
Guest of Honour Ms. Nilofer Farrukh remarked on how immediately after Covid , the world had rapidly changed with a shift to digital. This paradigm shift led to the theme for Karachi Biennale in 2022. , which explored the intersection of art and technology.
And the Winners of Digital Echoes 2024 Are…
After much deliberation, the judges announced the top entries that stood out for their creativity and message:
- 1st Place: Rohaan Ansari of Jaffar Public School
- 2nd Place: Aisha Shahbaz of DHACSS Seaview Campus
- 3rd Place: (Tie) Aiman Aamir of DHACSS Seaview Campus & Syeda Shiza Hassan of Mama Parsi School
Digital Echoes serves as a testament to the boundless creativity of our youth. It’s more than just an art exhibition—it’s a platform for young minds to reflect on the digital era we live in and imagine the future they want to shape.
We look forward to the continued evolution of this inspiring initiative, which promises to be a beacon for artistic expression and thoughtful dialogue in the years to come.
