In November 2023, I was selected to go on the Jhuley Lal Art Residency in the Sindh province in Pakistan. This three-week residency, funded by the British Council, was focused on collaboration and revival of local craft economies.

‍The residency was organised by THISS Studio, an architecture studio based London, and Numaish-Karachi ,a design studio based in Pakistan. We formed teams consisting of one artist from the UK and one artist from Pakistan. We were invited to create a contemporary domestic object, engaging with local culture and tradition. Based in Shikarpur, the Sind province, we spent three weeks working with local craftsmen around timber.  
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Shikarpur has a rich history with timber. It boast beautifully carved doors and windows,balconies, pieces of furniture. Unfortunately not much of their rich heritage is left. Lots was plundered, disappeared during partition times, or didn’t get enough care and maintenance due to lack of funds also related to partition. When trying to gather a team of craftsmen for our project, we struggled finding carvers that could still carve as delicately as they could 70 years ago.

This was my first time experiencing a relationship to making that didn’t involve me using my own hands. A separation between those who come up with the conceptual idea and form, and those who actually make the work. Since I usually work quite intuitively with and through materials, at first this was really difficult for me. Having a background in architecture as well, I want everything to be exact and precise, like to have control. That kind of working is not possible in a process like this.

Me and my artist partner Shaukar Ali Khokhar went to the timber workshop every day, to check in, but also to very consciously be there, to chat, to linger, to have tea. Spending time together - building a relationship.  It takes time to build mutual trust, and understanding of where each ways of working and thinking comes from. I learned a lot about a traditional way of working, an ‘Ustaad’ (master) and ‘Shagird’(apprentice), teaching designs and techniques that have been passed on through generations.
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Being in Pakistan for three weeks in a team with contemporary Pakistani artists, curators,photographers, was such an enriching experience which I’m forever grateful for. They have taught me a lot about their country, history and culture.

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