Mughal Influences on Hannan Arshad, Winning Artist Behind the Jaggery, Clay, and Other Traditional Art Pieces
In November, the Abu Dhabi Art event will unveil a remarkable installation titled "Safekeeping Stories" by artist Hannan Arshad. This participatory artwork, which is the winner of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award, aims to safeguard the fading knowledge and material traditions of the Mughal era through a unique blend of historical inquiry, craftsmanship, and innovative material use.
Arshad's inspiration for the installation stems from her academic research and visits to culturally significant sites, including the Raza Library in Rampur and the Bara Imambara mosque complex in Lucknow, both of which are associated with Mughal history and architecture. The installation's material history is rooted in Lakhori bricks, thin, flat red-clay bricks that were extensively used during the Mughal period.
Arshad elevates these historical bricks into vessels of storytelling by etching them with her own interpretations of Mughal miniature paintings. The bricks, assembled together in the shape of a library, invite audience interaction. Viewers can physically extract individual bricks, engaging in a tactile exploration of these cultural and historical stories.
Significantly, Arshad incorporates edible materials such as lime, bael fruit pulp, and jaggery into the brick-making process. The mortar made from jaggery and bael fruit pulp not only reconstructs an ancient building technique but also symbolizes nourishment and preservation, further amplifying the metaphor of the bricks as edible or consumable knowledge.
"Safekeeping Stories" combines historical inspiration from Mughal-era brickwork and miniature paintings, cultural significance rooted in the heritage of Rampur’s Raza Library and Mughal centers like Lucknow, material innovation through the use of edible, natural substances, and an interactive narrative experience where the assembled bricks function both as sculptural elements and as metaphorical "books" holding stories to be physically engaged with by the audience.
This installation not only celebrates Mughal architectural and artistic heritage but critically reflects on the act of preserving cultural knowledge in a format that is both historically informed and experientially modern. It is an expansion of an earlier project by Arshad, developed as part of her senior project at AUS with assistant professor Amparo Baquerizas.
Christianna Bonin, assistant professor at the university's College of Architecture, Art and Design, is mentoring Arshad in the development of Safekeeping Stories. The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award, established under the patronage of Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, is presented by NYU Abu Dhabi in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (Admaf), and produced in collaboration with NYUAD Art Gallery.
The Bara Imambara, built in the late 18th century, is a stunning example of Mughal engineering and architecture, and served as a significant inspiration for Arshad's installation. The Raza Library, which houses one of the world's richest collections of Indo-Islamic manuscripts, books, miniatures, and calligraphy, also played a crucial role in Arshad's research.
Arshad's visit to her hometown was limited until a 2021 visit, which sparked her interest in the town's famous Raza Library and the cultural heritage it represents. The installation will be revealed at Abu Dhabi Art in November, offering viewers a unique opportunity to engage with Mughal history and culture in a contemporary and interactive way.
- Hannan Arshad's installation titled "Safekeeping Stories," winning the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award, will be showcased at Abu Dhabi Art in November.
- Inspired by academic research and visits to culturally significant sites like the Raza Library and Bara Imambara, Arshad uses Lakhori bricks and edible materials in her artwork to preserve Mughal-era knowledge.
- Viewers can interact with the brick-made library, physically extracting individual bricks to explore various cultural stories rooted in the world's heritage.
- The installation, developed at AUS with the guidance of assistant professor Amparo Baquerizas, combines historical, experiential, and modern aspects, reflecting on the preservation of cultural knowledge in innovative ways.
