  
  
During winter vacation, my mother visited Lahore and spent three months in my studio, collaborating on numerous paintings. Here, she expressed her thoughts on dyed cotton, using a sign language reminiscent of her experiences in childhood. After a long time spent together in the studio, my mother shared many inside stories of her journey from Afghanistan when the Soviet Union invaded. They became refugees, spending time in refugee camps. This series of paintings reflects that era, depicting simple huts, zigzag lines, and more, encapsulating the essence of those times.

A conversation with mother about the dividing lines 

_Ancient water coolers from Baluchistan, crafted with repurposed mining wood, symbolise resourcefulness and sustainability in coal mines._ The work was part Lahore Biennale 03, _Of Mountains and Seas_. 
  
  

  The Clay Pot

I was drawn to this image because it encapsulates the humanity behind labour. This smile, though fleeting, speaks volumes about the inner strength and enduring spirit of these miners. In the bleakest of settings, they maintain a sense of community and warmth that defies the darkness surrounding them. Through this photograph, I wanted to honour not just their work, but their ability to find light even in the shadows.
  
  

 Porter

Jandran Marri, and two others from the mountains of Kohlu, Balochistan, work in the coal mines during their vacation to support the family. Thise artwork was part of Lahore Biennale 03, _Of Mountains and Seas_. 
  
  

Marri Ccoal Miners

I created this work as part of a series of 25 portraits and landscapes for the Lahore Biennale 03, _Of Mountains and Seas._ In this image,

Shahmaar, a refugee from Afghanistan is working at the Kohlu Chamalang coal mines. Reflecting my own past saw strength and a sense of jocularity in him as he lifted weight that was beyond his years. 
  
  

The Stock Methali

  Attire   

Materials from rural and urban spaces like jute sacks and cloth form large-scale collages. I explore materiality over paint in my creative process.
  
  

Bander of Clothes

Let them think

_Digging the Layers_ assembles jute, fabrics, and polythene, echoing a coal miner's act of excavating—layering, un-layering, making, and unmaking materials. 
  
  

Digging the Layers 

collaboration work with mother about the dividing lines 

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Niamat nigar niamat nigar

A conversation with mother about the dividing lines

The Clay Pot

Porter

Marri Ccoal Miners

The Stock Methali

Attire

Bander of Clothes

Let them think

Digging the Layers

mother stitched

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