An Artist in Kashmir

Sajad Hussein looks after a group of producers with disability called Care Kashmir. MESH was in conversation with him recently, this is what he told us about his life and work.

I was affected by polio at the age of 7. I completed higher secondary school and got admission in college to study arts in 1990. At that time Kashmir was having lots of problems due to militant activities. Schools and colleges were closed sometimes for up to months at a time due to curfew and strikes.
I used to make beautiful drawings in my notebook during my school days. I went to master who was well known at that time, he taught me papier-mâché craft, and some basics. So my hand became perfect for papier-mâché painting. I also learnt fine needle embroidery work on pashmina shawls from my father. I preferred papier-mâché; it was fun at that time for me.

Day by day the situation in Srinagar valley got worse. It affected our tourism sector and ultimately impacted our sales. We were not getting work then I decide to go Delhi for an exhibition to sell my products. I have also taken part in various training programs as a trainer in various colleagues and schools where I taught how to make papier-mâché items. Sometimes it was very difficult to manage things in life and for my family. I came across MESH who changed my whole life. I am happy to be a part of MESH family.

I have two children, a daughter who is studying in 3rd standard and a son studying in 2nd standard. I earn Rs.15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month. If work is available for 9 months; I spend my earnings on my family.

I don’t know any other work apart from papier-mâché craft so this work is important for me. I am able to meet my expenses and take care of my family. Work has provided me good living conditions and also respect in my family and as well as in society too.

My dream of life is to have a retail shop in Srinagar valley where disabled artisans can sell their handmade products.


A note about the craft

Papier-mâché is a traditional craft brought to Kashmir from Iran about 250 years ago. Each piece is made from paper pulp, set in a mold, dried then sanded, coated with a paste and shaped to smoothness. The shapes are hand painted. Every single one of our papier-mâché products has been hand painted. The craft is somewhat diminished by the demand for mass production. In the past the colours were natural and included gold paint made from gold leaf! The designs were often very intricate and highly detailed. Now along with traditional designs reflecting the beauty of the flora and fauna of Kashmir are much simpler designs to meet the demand of the international market. There are signs that this mass production means less income for all the artisans involved in the process. In our conversation Sajad said MESH changed his life; that is because he no longer has to depend on the brutally competitive commercial market where payments maybe late and are often exploitative.

When you chose to buy a papier-mâché product from MESH in a traditional design, you have a lovely timeless piece of art, made from scratch with waste materials, petal by petal, leaf and bird and branch painted by hand. It will last you a lifetime and bring some of the glorious beauty of the region into your life. It is true our products might not be as delicately painted as those that decorated the homes of the great patrons of the arts of old but we are privileged to have access to the craft in a manner we can afford and when you buy you are helping to keep the craft alive and available for future generations too and in between the business of it all the occasional masterpiece will emerge giving hope.