Exhibition: Decorative pieces on display at Nomad Art Gallery

Maliha Hashmi’s collection is influenced by multiple genres of Islamic art.

ISLAMABAD:

In her debut exhibition in Islamabad, Maliha Hashmi will showcase her exquisite collection of embellished mirrors and table accessories at the Nomad Art Gallery.

Hashmi, who designs bridal wear and 22-karat gold jewellery under the label Talai, brought forward the recently conceptualized collection of 11 pieces comprising of slim mirrors with embroidered silk thread, frosted tinted mirror and ceramic bead accents.

Investing a minimum eight hours a day, it took her six months to complete each piece that depicts history with a tinge of contemporary art.

She sketches each piece and colour codes them before handing them over to the craftsmen. After the craftsmen are done, The framing is then done by the jewellery designer herself. Apart from using metal relief on mirror, she adds frosted motifs in the centre to add more character to them. Ceramic accents are also added to the top of most frames to connect and complete each piece.

Influence by Islamic art, Hashmi’s collection is a tribute to the masterpieces of the Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal empires with the design ethos ranging from the pietra dura mosaics of Mughal architecture to the illuminations that decorate ancient Quranic scripts and opulent particular collection titled the “Three Empires” exhibited successfully in Dubai and Lahore.

The collection is made unique by the designer’s use of tiles from her personal antique collection. PHOTO: MYRA IQBAL/EXPRESS

The pieces, with a maximum price tag of Rs30,000, are specially designed for Nomad Art Gallery. The collection is made unique by the designer’s use of tiles from her personal antique collection. Hyderabadi tiles and Sindhi coloured glass are also added to some mirrors to give them a vintage look.”These pieces are so old, they are almost priceless. The mirrors’ price does not even reflect the original worth of the tiles,” said Hashmi.

It was her first time experimenting with Calligraphy on thread for the centre pieces of the mirrors. The collection also depicts the symbolism of the Hand of Fatima which represents wealth, prosperity & happiness and has a cross cultural connotation.

Hashmi explained that both the wooden Kalamdaars in the collection represented different styles with one piece finished using embroidery while the other one using Mughal miniature tile. “They are more of collector’s items then just showpieces and when placed on a centre table, they are a statement in themselves,” she explained.

An assortment of ten table pieces — mostly trays are accessorized Central Asian and Mughal era miniatures on wooden tiles — are distinctive and are priced between Rs18,000 and 28,000.

The exhibition will start on September 18 2013 at Nomad Art Gallery.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2013.