Reflections of the past: Exhibition of decorative mirrors catches the eye

Two-day exhibition of handcrafted mirrors opens.

ISLAMABAD:

Some things look good on reflection, others seem to because of what is reflecting them.

A two-day exhibition of beautifully handcrafted mirrors opened on Saturday at Gallery 6.

The exhibition, titled “Three Empires” showcases the best of decorative arts from the Muslim world and pays tribute to fabulous masterpieces from the Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal empires.

A total of 15 mirrors on which a variety of materials have been used for decoration were on display, with prices starting at Rs33,000 and going up to Rs 150,000.

The design ethos ranges from the pietra dura mosaics of Mughal architecture to the illuminations that decorate ancient religious books and opulent Kashmiri shawls. Every piece is painstakingly researched, sketched and lovingly handcrafted by a team of thirty people led by Maliha Hashmi, an Islamabad-based fashion designer.

“It took me four to five months to work on each piece separately and make them unique,” Hashmi told The Express Tribune.

Explaining the detailing on some of the items, she said the pricey “Window to the Taj” includes gold and silk embroidery. Others such as the Rs 90,000 “Georgian Ivory” shows metal work on crème silk and frosted glass. “Indus” features two tones of green signifying the meeting of the tributaries of the Indus River, and has a floral pattern embroidered with silk, at the somewhat more affordable price of Rs55,000, while “Illumination” shows exquisite silk thread embroidery with patterns inspired by age old art of Quranic illumination.

There is also “Designs of Desire”, with aqua handloom silk having intricate scrolling foliage patterns inspired by 16th century Dutch dagger sheaths. “Europa” shows the strong influence of Georgian England on the design aesthetics of the Indian subcontinent in which the patterns are inspired by antique wallpapering and tapestries. “Kashmir Green” is a slim accent mirror highlighting the paisley pattern used extensively in Kashmiri shawls.

“My mother is the inspiration for coming up with a collection of distinctive decorative mirrors. She taught me how to utilise mirrors for showcasing our culture,” she said.

Hashmi said the idea is to tell people that they can make their interiors quiet stunning by placing decorative items which truly represent our traditions. She also exhibited mirrors in Dubai in 2011 and in Lahore in 2012, from where she got a lot of appreciation and encouragement.

However her expectations from Islamabad have been lowered by the impending long march and the associated fuel and gas supply problems which have immobilised many potential buyers.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2013.