A STITCH IN TIME

Starry Night by Shafaq Zehra

I always thought there are only so many things one can do with pocket fluff until i met Shafaq Zehra. She is a bit of McGuiver when it comes to creating art from unusual materials. Give her a papaya, a screw driver and a needle and she will probably come up with a glistening 7 foot sculpture. A recently graduated textile designer from Karachi University, Shafaq's last exhibition was a sight to behold.

It was a series of wall hangings inspired by Van Gogh's paintings. Her interpretation using bright colours was a treat but the unusual thing was her choice of material. She used 'Namda' and 'Putsun'. Namda is actually a form of felt-making where a fabric is contructed using sheep's wool. Putsun is the raw form of jute. All the definition and adornment was embroidered with woolen threads. Sure sounds like a lot of work, but in the end her 'textile paintings' were truly unique and original.


Thatched Cottages in Auvers by Shafaq Zehra


Sun Flowers by Shafaq Zehra

In the future, Shafaq plans on experimenting with different techniques and natural materials like coconut hair, namda, paper making, fiber glass, etc. As if her ingenuity wasn't impressive enough, she is not a big fan of high art and believes in producing work that would hold interest for a layman as well.

Whatever the future holds for her, one thing is for sure, if you are planning to get lost on a deserted island, Shafaq is the person to take with you.



Gypsy Camp With Horse And Carriage by Shafaq Zehra