DUBAI: During the Holy Month of Ramadan, Showcase Gallery in Dubai is
hosting an exhibition with an artwork entitled “99 names of Allah.”
Ninety nine artisan women from Chitral in Pakistan have participated in the making of the textile artwork, which measures almost two metres in width. Each woman was allocated one name and their task was to research and interpret the name they had and ponder about its meaning. Women also sought help by speaking with neighbours, family members and the local Imams. The embroidery
payment is also one of the few
opportunities for the women to work in their valley. Embroidery allows
them to be flexible and work from their homes or neighbourhoods, helping
them to maintain their culture and traditions.Ninety nine artisan women from Chitral in Pakistan have participated in the making of the textile artwork, which measures almost two metres in width. Each woman was allocated one name and their task was to research and interpret the name they had and ponder about its meaning. Women also sought help by speaking with neighbours, family members and the local Imams. The embroidery
The script has been written in Urdu and each button has one word embroidered on it, explaining the meaning.
This artwork incorporates not only the traditional meaning but also what the women understood when they were tasked to research about the name, making it a very unique piece of art. There are 3,200 buttons and each one of them is stitched individually onto a plain, cream calico fabric. Each button is off-white and carries a red script.
On the back of the artwork, which is weighing approximately 15 kilo, is a screen print of the 99 names of Allah in Arabic and the translation of the women’s interpretation into English.
A similar piece using the same concept of embroidered buttons called “My Prayer Is...” was exhibited in Australia and was short listed as one of the finalists.
The concept of hand embroidered buttons on canvas had also caught the interest of a Qatari collector, who commissioned a similar piece using a black and cream colour combination.
The artisans
collectively decided to put some of the finances gained from “99 names
of Allah” into the community fund that has been established in Chitral,
which in turn will help subsidise the education for the children living
there. The community fund will be used to provide opportunities for
education scholarships and seed money to start businesses.
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