Colourful, ethnic and funky are the three words that come to mind as one enters the Nomad Art Gallery, which is exhibiting arts and crafts from Chitral these days.
Titled “The Ramazan Diaries”, the work that has been created by the women of the mountainous region is an artistic account of their life during the month of Ramazan.
The nine wall hangings stand out with vibrant colours using light beige or white as the base. Each hanging carries a different theme according to the women’s experiences. For instance, one piece titled the “FM Radio” shows radios crafted in different sizes and colours.
According to the artist, the concept behind the piece comes from random calls on radio shows in Ramazan, where people hide their identity by using different aliases and send funny short messages to each other.
One can see a message reading “Hello Shabnam, I’m missing you very much,” stitched on the canvas, along with other such messages that encircle the radios.
“Lushoo” is another interesting piece, which, according to the artist, is the name of their family cow that has been with them for years. The hanging depicts the cow grazing, giving milk and the artist’s family making butter, yogurt and other dairy products.
The wall hangings are a breathe of fresh air from the usual art scene in the capital city and anyone interested in arts and crafts can easily see not only the labour, but also the fun behind the pieces.
The Ramazan Diaries is an initiation between “Mogh”, a project of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, and “Polly and Me”, a non-profit organisation, under which the artists are trained in handicrafts and encouraged to use their lives as inspiration.
Besides wall hangings, the gallery is also showcasing clay mugs, tea sets and trays from Clayworks, a leading manufacturer of ceramic tableware and accessories.
What sets these aside from the usual clay tea sets is their simple ingenuity. In simple colours of red and blue, the teapots and cups have Urdu words and letters painted on them, making them one of a kind. “I am really amused by these mugs, each of them has an Urdu alphabet on them, the concept is unique,” said Sarah, one of the visitors at the event.
The exhibition will continue till September 10.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2012.
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