LAHORE, Sept 30: An exhibition of crafts titled ‘Revival of Islamic Craft’ by a 1980s graduate of National College of Arts, Fauzia Azim, opened at Revivers Art Gallery, Gulberg III, on Monday.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Professor Bashir Ahmed from NCA.

As many as 30 art pieces based on the themes of Persian, Turkish and Mughal art and architecture were on display. These furniture pieces include linen boxes, screen, jewellery boxes, coffee tables, mother-of-pearl cabinet, writing desk and mother-of-pearl console.

The pieces on display were imbued with an artistic harmony and aesthetics characterised by subtlety, delicacy and elegance. Densely patterned mother-of-pearl khatamkari and Naqashi is prominent in artist’s fine work with designs of swirling arabesque of split leaves, rosettes and entrancing Islamic geometric patterns.

Azim graduated in 1981 from National College of Arts as a product designer and did her M.Phil from College of Arts and Design, University of Punjab. She taught history of art and architecture and design of cultural heritage at the College of Home Economics and National College of Arts. Her interest in reviving the dying arts and crafts of Pakistan required active involvement with the artisans and craftsmen, keeping a close contact with them and giving them design workshops to enhance the quality of their work.

She also arranged group participation and exhibition of craftsmen abroad. In 2007, under the auspices of Mrs Ayesha Noorani, she joined NGO Daachi endeavouring to build an artisan village on Raiwind Road.

Under Daachi, Azim has taken up the task of training and promoting the arts of Naqashi and Khatimkari (inlay of mother pearl). In doing so, she has brought Naqashi closer to decorative elements of miniature painting. Naqashi is the art of painting surfaces, common to a myriad of Islamic cultures and mediums. The exhibition will continue till Oct 12.