As a child, visiting the planetarium always meant more than just a trip for Zohaib Kazi. Although his excursions were usually quite brief, they left a visual imprint on him that is easy to spot in his work today. Through multiple stints as a video producer on Coke Studio, the musician has already proved his mettle when it comes to visual and psychedelic art. But a few months ago, Kazi struck once again with a graphic novel/music album entitled Ismail Ka Urdu Sheher (IKUS), which he has great plans for. Not only is Kazi currently having it translated into Urdu, he is also transforming it into an augmented reality (AR) experience — the first of its kind in the country.
The project might still be in its infancy but Kazi has already ironed out the details with a tentative framework in mind. “We will most likely be setting up an installation in a public space like a mall and creating a video which is in a loop of at least 30 seconds,” he shared. “But it isn’t necessary that it will be just 30-seconds long: the runtime will depend on the kind of resources and funding we have at our disposal.”
With AR still working its way through international markets and audiences, Kazi’s decision to pursue the project in Pakistan may seem far-fetched. It is bound to raise a few eyebrows, primarily due to the lack of technological expertise and resources to support it through. And as is the case with most adventurous start-ups, funding seems to be a major issue plaguing Kazi’s vision. The project has already run into a roadblock, with Kazi having exhausted most of his own resources on IKUS already. He is now approaching people with proposals to back his off-beat venture, lest it fails. “I am looking into the idea and have already approached a couple of different investors with a proposal. Let’s see where we can take this project from over here,” he said, with his fingers crossed.
Ironically, Kazi remains unperturbed by criticism. He has spent a considerable amount of his time, working with local animators for the artwork of IKUS and hoping to repose his faith into them. He maintains that there was no dearth of talent within the country, despite the odds he is facing. “Technology, resources and expertise are not the main problem,” he claimed. “With the right team in place, this project will take us only a month and a half at most,” he added.
Fortunately for Kazi, his performance at the launch of IKUS — held in Karachi, last year — generated much hype. The success of the venture has given him the courage that such a concept can, in fact, be pulled off in Pakistan. The performance incorporated the idea of a visual cosmos and constellations — traits common to most virtual reality projects. Speaking about production details of the project, Kazi noted that, while sound design may not require any wholesome changes, he may be forced to revisit the visuals once again, “The visual design may require a few changes and additions so that it becomes more engaging an experience for users.”
