Afghan silver and lapis tiered necklace from Artizan Sarai, $135
Mariam Atash Nawabi, co-founder of Artizan Sarai, an
exporter of objects by artisans in economically disadvantaged areas of
the world, including Afghanistan, India, Turkey, and Morocco, reponds
to Golden Afghanistan Now at the Met: A Blockbuster for Love, Not Money:
I agree with you
that the exhibition [the Metropolitan Museum’s installation of the traveling show, Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul] was very well done. I also agree that the art
merchandise at the Met missed the mark.Although he is talented, inviting a Turkish jewelry
designer [Gurhan Orhan] work
on a piece that reflects Afghanistan’s history and art is
actually insensitive to the fact that there are many Afghan designers
whose work could have been highlighted.
I have worked on the arts/culture initiative, Artizan Sarai, which
helps artisans in
Afghanistan (as well as India and Turkey). We provided items for the
National Gallery of Art and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
[previous venues for the Afghanistan show], but the Met wanted to
focus on “higher end” pieces.We believe that was a mistake.
Afghan artisans produce very good quality pieces
that can be considered “high end”; it just depends on who is evaluating
it. Artizan Sarai ‘s goal is to have the pieces recognized as art and
not
“craftsy” items that can be mass produced. Developing an appreciation
for the workmanship and time/effort in creating a piece shows respect
for the culture itself.We believe that with the right
marketing and education,
people will see the artistic skills that people have. They will
see that people even in the most impoverished areas can create fine
masterpieces reflected in embroidery, jewelry and other products. It is
through that acceptance by which appreciation for Afghanistan’s art and
culture can truly be shown.
Contacted by CultureGrrl, Deborah Ziska,
the National Gallery’s chief of press and public information, confirmed
that Artizan Sarai “provided jewelry and other items for our shop for
the exhibition, and our shop operation was pleased with what was
supplied.”
But let’s flee the giftshop and return to the superb show—COMING SOON.