Written by: Hamad Ali
Posted on: February 18, 2020 | 
| 中文
(L) Furniture Displayed at Daachi (photo credits to the writer) and A Swat Art Gallery Closet (photo credits to Daachi) (R)
From the Naqshi work boxes of Dera, to the hand painted ceramics of Hala, from sustainable tote bags made of waste denim, to Karachi-based designer furniture, Daachi Festival was a juxtaposed amalgam of tradition meeting fashion-forward chic in its latest iteration. Hailing all the way from Lahore, it was a first time that Daachi Foundation came to Karachi with its iconic biannual exhibits on 15th and 16th February at Karachi Expo Center.
Naqshi Boxes (photo credits to Daachi)
Daachi's objective is to guard and promote our cultural heritage and environment by sponsoring our indigenous craftsmen/artists and promoting a sustainable lifestyle. Daachi Foundation had been established in 2010, slowly building a rapport with craftsmen and local entrepreneurs. The ultimate goal remains to establish a permanent Daachi Nagar – a village situated 8 Km from Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore. It shall be designed with natural materials and embellished eclectic folk crafts from all over Pakistan.
This iteration of exhibit focused on the pressing issue of plastic use; visitors were advised to bring their cloth carry bags to avoid single use plastic, in order to reduce the event’s carbon footprint.
Daachi's No Plastic Rule
As one enters the grand halls of Expo Center, one encounters two booths with potters’ wheels and a plethora of perfectly made, and a few disproportionate pots. Mouhammad Ibrahim was a potter from Bahalwalpur, who learnt the art of throwing pots from his father a decade ago. Visitors could pick a small lump of clay, watch him throw it, and pay a small amount of 100PKR to take that pot with them. Keeping his father’s tradition alive, Ibrahim runs a company called Cholistan Mitti Culture in Lahore. It was his first time in Karachi, and he was elated and overwhelmed to be here.
Mouhammad Ibrahim Throwing Pottery (photo credits to the writer)
Muhammad Waseem, coming all the way from Dera Ismail Khan, brought a display of Mughal art lacquer woodworks. His collection contained a selection of trays, plates, pots, and boxes – all hand painted with a very fine brush in a Mughal miniature style form. The patterns were intricate and recurring, depicting the flora and fauna often associated with this kind of artwork. The gold paint was used to give all the designs a pop of color against the flat maroons and blues.
Miniature Lacquer Work (photo credits to the writer)
Swat Art Gallery attracted the most visitors, and one could see the stall emptying of all the goods on sale in no time. A project of twin brothers, Ghazi and Gul Marjan, Swat Art Gallery is a furniture brand with expertise in hand carved, and hand painted tables, cabinets, and seats. The wood polished in hues of Sepia with inlaying of colorful marble tiles, the furniture heralded a commitment to the cultural heritage of the North, which is rarely seen in such quality in the South of Pakistan.
Greyscale's Stall at Daachi (photo credits to Daachi)
It was not just traditional work that caught people’s attentions. Home grown passion projects like that of Greyscale, with their planter collections in concrete, were also present to give everyone a taste of the minimal, urban-chic and Instagram-able lifestyle. These molded concrete planters came with indoor succulent plants and air purifiers. Their collection had wall clocks, ashtrays, and concrete alphabets to accessorize one’s table or shelves. High-end furniture designers like Zahra Ebrahim, also displayed her modern and minimalist designs to the public. Her printed trays and sophisticated carved center tables attracted attention toward her stall.
Daachi helps the city dwellers to reconnect with their rich historical and cultural art and combine the modern minimalistic aesthetic of their homes with traditional handicrafts from Daachi. However, due to its expensive entry ticket and overpriced products, the festival some-what failed to make its products accessible to a large number of people. Catering to an exclusive circle of the urban elites in Karachi, this festival carved a niche by selling indigenous crafts to a select clientele only. This may benefit the producer, but it comes at the expense of denying those genuinely interested in learning about and buying these products.
Daachi at Karachi Expo Center (photo credits to Daachi)
Those interested can catch the next iteration of Daachi in Lahore, April 2020.
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