About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
"Sindhu in might surpasses all the streams that flow, His roar is lifted up to heaven above the earth."
― Veda
As a symbol of peace and unity, the Sindhu River has historically connected diverse cultures and religions. However, recent years have witnessed its exploitation and reduced perception as a mere resource. This has led to cultural discord and polarization in the regions it flows through.
"Singing Sindhu" is an augmented reality installation that aims to reclaim true essence and significance of the Sindhu River and raise awarness for its restoration.
In my personal practice, I explore my ancestral heritage, embracing all aspects of myself and delving into the complexities of identity, culture, language, and wisdom. Hailing from Sindh, the land of rebels, saints, and poets, I am drawn to the interplay between land, folklore, music, and technology, which forms the foundation of my artistic voice. Through this installation, I reflect my inner dialogue, celebrating nature, heritage, and womanhood. My art creates an intentional space for wonder, warmth, and a profound sense of belonging. The installation was exhibited at E-Gallery, MMU, Malaysia and 4 Days Festival at Lahore Museum, Pakistan.
Technique:
Digital illustration, printed on accordian-style book, animation triggered through Artivive, an augmented reality app.
Printed by: Archprint, Cyberjaya
Photos by: Anisah Salleh
Special thanks to: Dr. Roopesh Sitharan at MMU and
Felicia Rice of Moving Parts Press
Scan to download Artivive for free and hover your phone over the
illustrations to watch them come to life.
Divinity of Sindhu
Sindhu as an ancestor
Sindhu Nurturing Connections
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Sindhu as a mother
Homeland
Research & Pre-production
• The project was done with the help of qualitative research to gain an in-depth understanding of the importance of orature, issues of the river and their impact on Sindh.
• The research process began by identifying a water expert, musician and a poet who had a deep understanding and passion for environment-related issues.
• The interviews were conducted online and the participants were asked open-ended questions that allowed them to share their thoughts and experiences freely.
• The water expert shared his knowledge on the technical aspects of the river, including its sources, management, and socio-political challenges.
• The poet, on the other hand, shared his personal relationship with water, including how it inspires his creativity and the sacred connection he has with her.
• The contemporary folk musician’s work was instrumental in this research as as it helped in a better understanding of songs using different dialects and languages. The musician resides on the bank of the Sindhu River in Jamshoro and painted an entire picture in the interview about how the river and its ecosystem influences his life and music and how he uses his platform to raise awareness about displacement of indigenous peoples of Sindh.
• After the interviews, I selected several devotional and folk songs as well as poems about the Sindhu River to draw a narrative of religious synergy and cultural harmony in the region. I created my interpretation of characters based on these songs.
• The process of character design started with some visual development work where I was exploring the best suitable option for the style I want to go with. I decided to go for vivid vector illustations and animations to finish the project within the decided time frame.
Production
In the production phase, I asked myself several questions to make sure my message is coherent throughout the process. Some of these questions and notes were as follows:
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What 'powerful' story do I wanna tell?
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What aesthetic I wanna go for?
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Keywords: mystical, harmonious (color script),
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Representation of the characters as wise, custodians of traditions that preserve nature, have weather wisdom, celebrations like Thadri as a center focus. They are all poets.
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The main thread that connects these cultures is the river.
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How do we know about their wisdom?
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How can they be represented like that?
My production phase answers these questions.
The Divinity of Sindhu
• The first song Naav Karo Meri Paar is a Bhajan / Hindu Devotional Song for Lord Shiva was taken from a documentary by Maati TV about Sadh Belo, an island in the Sindhu River near Sukkur that is famous for its Hindu Temples.
• The second song Paar Pujaendo Jhulelal is a Sindhi Devotional Song credited to professor Ram Punjwani. The third song is a ginaan (devotional literature) belonging to the Ismaili Muslim faith.
• Paar Karo Beda is credited to Sayyed Huseini.
All three devotional songs are a request to a spiritual guide or deity to help cross the river of life.
Sindhu as an ancestor
• This illustration is inspired by a poem by Khalil Khumbhar based on the legend of Kajlasar of Parinagar in Nagarparker, Sindh: It is believed that the girls of Parinagar would come early morning to this pond to bathe wearing such heavy kajal (kohl) that the whole reservoir would be covered with black lines floating on the surface of the water. Kajal was worn particularly by Jain women. It is said that their large eyes lined with Kajal complemented their features beautifully.
• Poems and songs related to water carry with them history and tradition of people who lived on our land before us. In Sindh, these songs also embody divinity, love, joy, music, and a sense of transcendence.
Sindhu nurturing connections
• Rivers and songs are two powerful and evocative elements that have the ability to bring people together across cultures.
• In Sindhi, Telugu and Tamil cultures, the connection between these two elements runs deep, serving as a source of beauty, reverence and inspiration for generations.
• For this illustration, the chosen songs were: Sindhu Nadhiyin Misai by Bhathiyar & Sindhunadhi Karaiyoram Ilaiyaraaja, T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela.
• The first song speaks about beautiful women of Cheras (present day Tamilnadu and Kerala) basking in the moonlight along the banks of the Sindhu River while celebrating an exchange of goods, elephant tusks, and poems from the Marathas. The second song compares lovers to the beauty of the Sindhu River at Sunset.
Sindhu as a mother
• This illustration is inspired by a poem by Khalil Khumbhar based on the legend of Kajlasar of Parinagar in Nagarparker, Sindh: It is believed that the girls of Parinagar would come early morning to this pond to bathe wearing such heavy kajal (kohl) that the whole reservoir would be covered with black lines floating on the surface of the water. Kajal was worn particularly by Jain women. It is said that their large eyes lined with Kajal complemented their features beautifully.
• Poems and songs related to water carry with them history and tradition of people who lived on our land before us. In Sindh, these songs also embody divinity, love, joy, music, and a sense of transcendence.
Homeland
• This piece is inspired by the relationship that Sindhi women share with birds. Women from desert regions like That especially play a big role in welcoming and nurturing peacocks and migratory birds.
• Birds are used as metaphors for lovers, freedom and also connection with land in multiple Thari songs.
• The song used for this illustration is written by renowned Sindhi poet Shaikh Ayaz called, “Vanjo Kaaveliyoon”, based on Sindh’s folk character Marui Maraich, who serves as a symbol of love for homeland for Sindhis. Marvi Maraich of Rabari tribe resisted the overtures of a powerful King and the temptation to live in the palace as a queen, preferring to be in simple rural environment with her own village folk.
Final Installation
The choice of an accordion-style book for this installation was a deliberate and thoughtful decision. This unique format was selected because it emulates the sinuous and meandering form of a river, specifically the mighty Sindhu River. Just as the Sindhu River flows through the heart of Sindh, this accordion-style book allows the artwork to flow seamlessly, creating a visual and tactile representation of the river's journey. In this way, the accordion-style installation becomes a bridge between art and audience, inviting individuals to immerse themselves in the essence of the Sindh region, its folklore, and its vibrant traditions, all while mirroring the flowing spirit of the Sindhu River itself.