Fauzia Minallah - Gandhara Inspiration
Engraving, Mixed Media
I derive inspiration from ancient Gandhara ( Buddhist) carvings as well as slate engravings or chitarkari found on slate tombs in the cemeteries of my home town in the Gangar mountain region of Northern Pakistan. Coming from Pakistan, this form of art is not only my inspiration but my roots too. I am also inspired by elements of Islamic art and the white dots are an inspiration from Aborignal art from Australia.
Although I learnt many wonderful mediums computer graphics, animation etc while I was studying Communication Design in New York. After completion I wanted to go back to my roots and learnt traditional carving from stone carvers from my village in Pakistan and started using slate stone as my canvas. Later I started carving boards and then painting them with oils or acrylics.
The art and craft of Pakistan is at a great risk of destruction due to the rising Talibanisation in Pakistan. Just like the beautiful Bamyan Buddhas were destroyed in Afghanistan, talibans have destroyed many pre Islamic antiquities in the North of Pakistan. I want to preserve this beautiful art which is rooted in my history in my paintings.
My visual imagery is about life, its joys and sorrows depicted by the dark and light areas and a window or door depicting hope. My paintings are about the weak and powerless. The image of dancing figure is my desire of preserving this beautiful art form which is also diminishing as a result of increasing talibanisation. I use the imagery of roots in both positive or negative sense. I use aerial roots as imagery too which are found in the old Banyan trees in my country. Sometimes these roots are visible while other times they become abstract.