The unexpected Rediscovery of a passion for Traditional Arts
In 2005, my family’s lives were turned upside down when my wife Dilshad suffered a brain haemorrhage. Fortunately with Allah’s grace, she recovered well, but our circumstances and priorities had completely changed. I retired to look after Dilshad and as she began to recover, I found myself with more spare time than I had envisaged – something I was not used to after running my own businesses for many years.
I volunteered at the Spirit and Life exhibition in 2007, where I met various tutors and students from the Princes School of Traditional Art (PSTA) who were conducting geometry workshops. I found this fascinating and it reminded me of my childhood passion for the Arts. Dilshad and I had joined the Lifelong Learning Programme and therefore decided to enroll in summer classes at PSTA to earn credits for our certificate. We were instantly hooked – mesmerised by the intricate techniques of miniature painting, calligraphy and geometry to name a few. I decided to take the plunge and applied to study for a Diploma in Traditional Art at the College full-time.
During the course of the programme, I learnt several techniques of traditional art and worked with various materials such as glass, ceramics, wood, and even gold. I also had the opportunity to take part in various educational field trips to Chartres in France, Alhambra in Spain, as well as spending two weeks in Morocco, to learn the art of making Zillij tiles. In 2011 we took an unforgettable field trip to Iran where we experienced a rich culture that included miniature paintings, calligraphy, exquisite carpets and vibrant glazed tiles.
We also had the opportunity to volunteer and participate in Outreach Programmes at the Ismaili Centre, as well as travelling to Burnley and Cambridge to assist with local community projects.
After being accepted for the Masters programme at PSTA, I decided that for my second year project I wanted to work with materials with which I was familiar – ebony, rosewood and wood veneers. I have always had an affinity towards wood – admiring the depth of colour, grain and strength of different types of wood. I discovered the art of Marquetry, which uses the colour and grains of wood veneers to create a design that is overlaid onto a solid background. Marquetry allowed me to explore not just the beauty of different wood veneers but also the ability to choose from a myriad of different textures, grains, and hues to evoke different emotions; much like a painter selects and mixes colours or chooses a particular brush to create a desired texture.
During the project, my faith played a large part in providing inspiration.
In all faiths and cultures the designated area for prayer is often a place of peace and serenity, an environment conducive to reflection and contemplation. Décor and lighting plays a big part in creating this ambiance, and whilst many items are installed for practical purposes, they can still be made to reflect and enhance their surroundings. It is for this reason that I decided to make a collection of items suitable for use in a prayer hall using the skills of marquetry and parquetry. Parquetry is a technique whereby veneers are cut into geometric patterns. This enabled me to use varying shades and grains of wood to create an aesthetically pleasing pattern whilst retaining the calming shades and tones of nature. The collection of items I created included a table, decorative Marquetry wall panels, two different styles of Qur’an boxes, a box to hold religious books and one for tasbihs (rosary beads). I was inspired by the geometric patterns from the Islamic art and architecture found in mosques and madrasas across Egypt, Morocco and Iran.
As we approached exam time, we found out that we would be presenting our work in the college gallery for the degree show, as the patron of the college, His Royal Highness Prince Charles, would be visiting this exhibition. We were privileged to have an audience with Prince Charles, who spoke to us all individually about our work, our experiences at the college and our future aspirations and plans. It was a day that I will never forget. I am grateful to the Directors, staff, tutors and fellow students for creating a supportive learning environment that enabled me not only to learn the various techniques, but also to gain an understanding of the different faiths and cultures to which we belong.
Nizar Jiwani is a graduate of the 2009 Lifelong Learning Programme. He is currently pursuing his own artistic endeavours. For more information about PSTA please visit http://www.psta.org.uk
Click on the image to view the gallery.
Ismailimail 