Cool Cartography- UNESCO recognized artist made illustrated Cloth Map of Srinagar
At 54, Maqbool, a native of Srinagar and recipient of four state awards created a highly detailed site-specific map with historical references depicting various crafts.
Maqbool started working on the map in 2020 with the objective to tempt the youth’s fancy towards adopting crafts practices of the valley, he finished it last year and now the illustrated cloth map has become a sensation on social media art circles.
Raised by his mother after his father deceased at an early age, he had to drop out the school but he joined the Karkhana (craft workshop) under the aegis of his kins to acquire various art skills like Papier mâché, Naqashi, and calligraphy. His whole family, including his brother, children, wife, and sister are engaged in this profession. They inherited the artisanal skills from their ancestors who were involved in Sozni embroidery that is used to decorate Pashmina shawls.
The map of Srinagar is a humble attempt marking the beguiling landscape that houses Shikara boats, the finest Mughal architecture, picturesque Chinar trees, handicrafts soaked in century-old cultures, and, of course, the ever so placid Dal Lake.
Oblivious to lauding his craft and skills has been receiving and doing rounds on social media he continued working on the final finishings of his map of Srinagar valley.Though he has already been rewarded with UNESCO Seal of Excellence for handicrafts in 2007-2008.
This process of making the base is called Sakhtasaz and in the Naqashi stage, the objects are finely painted with designs and patterns such as almonds, chinar, jungle motifs, flowers, calligraphy, etc. These exquisite items, Maqbool claims, can last for 500 years.
Maqbool covets that his art will adorn the Parliament or state assembly walls someday and that will be his biggest contribution to the country.
