ISLAMABAD: The Satrang Art Gallery on Wednesday exhibited The Sindhu Project by Gunjan Kumar, an Indian-American artist and Mahwish Chishty, a Pakistani-American artist.

The Sindhu Project was a journey of research into ancient civilisations and collaboration across borders. Gunjan and Mahwish were interested in exploring their roots and the rich cultural legacy of South Asia.

The works on display explore the intricate motifs, innovative materials and architectural design of the ancient sites visited by the artists. The event was the final stop of this exhibition that has travelled from institutions in Chicago to Lahore to New Delhi and finally to Islamabad.

The Sindhu Project was the culmination of a fascinating journey of collaboration and discovery. Born in South Asian families that had migrated across new borders during the partition in 1947, both artists shared an interest in exploring heritage, history, legacy and loss. Their work drew from the rich culture South Asia had inherited from previous civilisations. Visits to archaeological sites of the renowned Indus Valley Civilisation (3,300 BCE to 1,300 BCE) and to Taxila of the Gandharan and Kushan periods (300 BCE to 400 CE) sparked a process of deep research, investigation, and creation for the two artists.

Gunjan’s work was an exploration of the material culture and visual design elements of Dholavira, near Bhuj in Gujarat and Sanghol in the Punjab, ancient sites of the renowned and technologically advanced ancient Indus Valley Civilisation.

Her interest lay in uncovering stories contained within materials discovered at these sites, which spoke to the innovation and lived experiences of the time. Created from materials associated with the Harappan era, layers of terracotta, riverbed soil, hand woven cotton, muslin, and organic pigments like turmeric, the resulting art was delicate and detailed.

Mahwish’s drawings, prints and laser cut acrylic sculptures were a response to the intricate motifs, architectural designs and advanced layout of the ancient site of Dharmarajika, Taxila and its surrounding area. Her work considered the configuration of the monastic complex of the site and her own personal relationship with legacy and identity. She drew in verses from the Sufi poet Bulleh Shah, as well as imagery from excavated pots and traditional ajrak cloth, said Zahra Khan, the curator of the show.

Mahwish Chishty combined new media and conceptual work with materials and techniques of South Asian art and craft traditions. Her work had been exhibited at several museums and art galleries all throughout the world. Chishty’s work was in public and private collections, including the Foreign Office in Islamabad, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka, and Imperial War Museum, London.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2022