I find a lot of enthusiasm and commitment in working on surface design, surface embellishment and manipulation. Label Ashdeen, which specialises in creating hand embroidered Parsi Garas provided me with precisely what I needed.
The brief was to create 4 pieces of textile art installations using traditional Parsi Gara embroidery aesthetic which must be handcrafted.
After substantial research about the craft and textile art, I decided to make textile art installations based on layering the hand-embroidered panels.
It was also an effort to investigate a potential aspect of contemporary relevance within the skills mastered by the artisans. This would assist them in expanding their horizons beyond the usual boundaries, involving new materials, techniques, and designs.
This project involved planning four art installations named Zen, Dreamscape, Soar, and Paradiso. Among these, the first three are embroidered panels that revolve around the idea of layering, while the fourth is a magnificent lampshade. The Zen features embroidered cranes set amidst water and clouds, with painted mountains and a shimmering dabka sun in the background. Both Dreamscape and Soar share a similar composition with embroidered cranes, a moon, and dreamy clouds. However, they are treated differently. In Dreamscape, the clouds and moon are created using the bandhani technique, while in Soar, they are made using applique and dabka techniques respectively. The Paradiso lampshade celebrates nature with vibrant silk yarns, portraying plants, birds, animals, flowers and insects in an almost lifelike manner.
Engaging in the graduation project has given me a new outlook and a better understanding of design. It has allowed me to generate ideas that align with the brand's image. Additionally, it has enhanced my skills in managing the entire design process by seeing the vast sphere of design from different perspectives.