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On august 8, 2007, research work published on motifs and
designs of embroidery under the title ‘Lifting
the Veil on the Northern Areas Motifs & Designs of
Embroidery’ was inaugurated by Chairman Senate,
Muhammad Mian Soomro here in a public gathering held in
Karimabad, Hunza.
This beautiful research catalogue presents a mosaic of
plurality of creative and aesthetic expressions of artistic
women of the mountain. This has been possible through an
initiative by KADO to restore and revitalize the rapidly
vanishing artistic tradition under Karakuram Handicrafts
Development Programme (KHDP).
This 10 years long research work will very useful for
researchers, students, artists, cultural programmers,
interested groups etc as a baseline information and an
in-depth understanding for all levels and categories.
This unique tradition of embroidery work by the women of Hunza
and the surrounding mountain communities both with in the borders of Northern areas and
across the borders in Tashkurghan country of china and
Badhakhshan region of both Afghanistan and Tajikistan has a
long history. As an important passage for invaders and an
offshoot of the old silk route, the Pamir region has seen
many trade caravan, raiders, pilgrims diplomats’ military
expedition and spies traveling through the region in
different times. This also means ideas, knowledge,
technologies and art traveled through and left its imprints
and impacts in one or the other communities in the region.
The rich and strong were the first to be exposed to and get
benefit from the new opportunities.
KADO took the initiative through the karakuram Handicraft
development programme (KHDP) to review this tradition. With
in a decade, we were able to reverse the the situation and
embroidering has once again become a widespread household
artwork and an economic activity in many parts of the
Northern Areas, mainly in Hunza region .Threadnet Hunza
served as the key vehicle to diversity and market, both
nationally and internationally the unique motifs and
vernacular design of the area through contemporary gift and
souvenir products. |
