Art that you can wear

Ever thought that you can actually ‘wear art’?

Indeed you can! Pakistani artist Masooma Syed shows how as takes you through her latest work titled ‘Mountains to Mosque and Other Details’, where she is exhibiting nearly 30 art objects which can be worn as jewellery pieces.

These jewellery pieces have been crafted from mediums as diverse as silver, copper, bronze, old perfume bottles, paper, nails, feathers and more.

The exhibition focuses on how jewellery as body adornment, is one of the most intimate of art forms.

Masooma Syed, who was born and brought up in Lahore and shuttles between Delhi and Pakistan, says, “Like textiles, jewellery has a direct relation to the body, it sits directly on the body, its weight, texture and size is a constant reminder of its presence.”

Traditional and drawing

Inspiration from history, jewellery has been defined as an attachment to the body,
personal decoration, displaying socially meaningful codes, serving as portable
and redeemable wealth and, mediation with the spiritual and emotional.

Says Masooma, “I believe my practice responds to this particular sensibility where commonly understood craft of utility could be investigated and liberated from its stereotypes.

My practice of jewellery-making falls in the category of sculpture, where I’m trying to push its boundaries and limits both in form and content.

There is a certain amount of deep and abiding love for close inspection of detail, for precision and for careful workmanship, but more than that, it’s the joy of combining traditional with the non-traditional, precious with non-precious material and changing the chemistry of scale, size and medium.”

Born and brought up in Lahore, Masooma studied painting and later studied MA in Visual Arts from National College of Arts, Lahore. Since then she has been involved in studio practice, and has exhibited in Pakistan and abroad, participating in several artists’ residencies and workshops.

She has also taught art in various art institutes namely The National College of Arts, Lahore, Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi as well as School of Art and Design, Kathmandu University, Nepal and Manchester Metropolitan University.

The exhibition is on till May 10 at Khoj Studios, S-17, Khirkee Extension.