Air, peace and tranquillity: words that are part of Islam and Islamic Art and Architecture, all influence my work. Although the style, colour and shape of Islamic Art vary, due to the country of its origin, Islamic Art and Architecture in general has a sense of spirituality. I feel peaceful, spiritual and inspired when I enter a mosque or pray. At the same time I am inspired by nature as well as the historical, fine and delicate cotton muslin or silk sarees of Bangladesh. The phrase “ Baf-thana” meaning “ woven air” is used to describe these textiles, which triggers a magical thought within me and inspires me to weave. Therefore the textiles I weave are more than mere pieces of cloth; for me they represent the sanctity, beauty and serenity of Islam along with nature and are the revival of cultural form and technique. Currently, I am weaving with fine natural materials: Egyptian cotton, Chinese silk, English merino wool and Japanese yarns. I dye my own colours using both natural and chemical dyes. For the last five years I have been teaching textile technology as well as art and design. This has led me to research art, craft and design from different cultures through which I have designed schemes of work for teaching natural fibres, fabric construction and hands on creative projects using different materials. Inspirations, Key Techniques and Materials: Current Position: Hand-weaver and Textiles Technology/Art and Design Teacher Education: 1999 - 2000: PGCE in Secondary Art and Design Institute Of Education, 20 Bedford Way, WC1H OAL 1995 - 1998: BA (Hons) Woven Textiles FIRST CLASS Surrey Institute of Art and Design, Falkner Rd, Farnham, Surrey GU9 1994 - 1995: Foundation in Art and Design Chelsea College of Art and Design, Hugon Rd, London SW6 Exhibitions: Dec.2003-30 th Jan 2004: Crafts / All Set for Christmas Ropestore- The Studio Gallery, Gloucestershire September 2003: Maka Textile Collaboration Como Gallery, Tokyo, Japan May-Sept. 2003: Summer Show Livingstone studio, Hamstead, London Jan - Feb 2003: Designer Crafts 2003, Mall Galleries, London Jan - March 2003: Yatra- A journey, a collaborative exhibition at the following venues: Riverhouse, Walton on Thames; Farnham Maltings, Farnham March - Aug 2002: Best of British Islam Festival 2002 ArRum, London Jan - Feb 2002: Designer Crafts 2002 Mall Galleries, London July 2000: PGCE Exhibition with countermarch and weaving demonstration/workshop, Institute Of Education, London March 1999: Textile Exchange Exhibition Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts, Shuri , Japan January 1999: Society of Designer Craftsman - Annual Winter Exhibition Mall Galleries, London October 1998: The Cloth Show - New Designer Award Business Design Centre, London Awards: Awarded MBE for Arts in London 2005 Feb 2002: Elected to Full Membership, Society of Designer Craftsmen. July 1999: Awarded Licentiate with Distinction, Society of Designer Craftsmen. Invited to exhibit at Annual Winter Exhibition Aug 1998: New Designer Award, TexPrint 1998 July 1997: The Ella McCloed Award for Best Woven Textile Professional experience: 27 th-28 th 2004 : Weave Demonstration at Shakespeare’s Globe theatre 19 th Oct 2001 : Lecture on Islamic Art/Architecture and Weaving Workshop Colwell Arts in Education Centre, Gloucestershire 19 th Jul 2001: Tie-Dye Workshop: WARWICK school, London May - Aug 1999: Part-time Design Room Assistant, Parry Murray & Co., Surrey Oct 1998-Sept 1999: Artist in Resident- Quintin Kynaston School, London 4 th Dec 1998: Textile Workshop: Paddington Green Primary School
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