Daily Times

“The soft texture of wool expresses the mildness and delicateness of women’s nature. Though soft-natured, a woman is blessed with immense power and strength,” these are the words of emerging young artist Shahina A Rasheed from Gwadar City, where women are seldom seen expressing themselves through creative work in the public sphere.

Shahina A Rasheed is striving to create awareness about women’s issues in Gwadar through creating unique pieces of wool art. At 23, the women of Gwadar, who continue their struggle for equal rights despite facing multiple barriers, inspire her work.

She finished her graduation in Fine Arts from the University of Balochistan in 2016 where her first ever exhibition was held in the art gallery of Fine Arts Department in January.

“When I was in Gwadar, I used to paint and draw sketches. I started my journey as a fine arts student in 2011 from the University of Balochistan and recently completed my thesis in thread work,” Shahina says.

Shahina’s work makes a strong case for women’s emancipation from tribal customs that still hold them back

She believes that many women artists of Balochistan have the potential to compete at international level but they do not get equal opportunities to showcase their creativity.

Shahina makes a strong case for women’s emancipation from tribal customs that still hold them back.

Shahina plans to exhibit her work in the Art Gallery of Cultural Department, Quetta and later in Rural Community Development Council club, Gwadar. But she would need the support of the government in order to organise events at a large scale.

Shahina has not only described women’s natural beauty through colours of wool but also shown an empowered woman who is an indispensable part of this society.

“In our society, women are considered weak and helpless. As a result, they are taken for granted and subjected to torture everywhere.”

She continued, “In my work, I showed the unlimited power of women by spreading wool colours out of canvas. This is to motivate women to think across the boundaries and know their hidden power.”

Shahina is determined to pursue higher studies in wool art with a focus on the struggle of Baloch women.

The article originally appeared in PakVoices. The writer is working with PakVoices as a citizen journalist from Gwadar city.

Published in Daily Times, July 21^st, 2017.