Following Threads
Following Threads demonstrates the beauty and organic nature of mark making in textiles across Asia and Australia. Being part of the show was an honor for me as I was getting a chance to have my work next to some of the most amazing textile works done by India Flint – http://indiaflint.com/, Noor Jehan Bilgirami – http://koel.com.pk/, Aranya artists of southern India, Ernabella textile artists of northwest South Australia and batik artists of Indonesia – Agus Ismoyo and Nia Fliam – who work in collaborations with Indigenous women from desert communities. These are shown alongside textiles from private collections of early Indigenous Australian batik and fabrics demonstrating Chinese-Malaysian traditions. Nowhere more clearly than in textile art can it be seen that the tangled roots of tradition lie in the present while continuing to follow the threads of the past.
My installation, ‘Following Humna’, of four panels, talks about the four elements of nature, earth symbolizing my family, water being my religion, fire reflecting my culture and air being the freedom, and how they come together to complete me and have helped me find myself here in Australia. When I saw the pieces, put up in the show, I was really missing my sisters not being there. While looking at the pieces I realized how much each piece actually symbolizes not only the energies of the four elements but also reflects the way I see my sisters and myself together.
Earth, a piece about family reminds me of my youngest sister, Raazah, who has always been the peace maker of our family and has a heart of gold. Her world is her family and her family is her world. Water, goes within our body, seeps through our soul and gives us the energy to believe and have hope for tomorrow, reflecting the spirit of religion and belief, reminds me of my eldest sister, Munazza ( I dont take her name out of respect and call her Appamaa, which means a sister who is like a mother!) I have always seen her as my guardian, who always reminds me of my religious duties. Fire is about culture, that keeps me glowing from within just like Maria, (who is elder to me and also out of respect i dont take her name and call her Appo). She’s cool on the out side but extremely rich with culture and traditions from the inside. The last piece, Air is how I see myself. Living life like a free bird, growing in the direction of the wind, in search of discovering the many layers of life and it’s magical experiences.
The exhibition is on till the 8th Nov 09, at the Arts Space, in the Festival Center, if you do get a change do visit it. It’s an exhibition extremely close to my heart. I hope you enjoy the works as much as i enjoyed creating them!
Follow Humna
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