Nawshaba Iqbal
SRINAGAR, Dec 17: Kashmir’s first multidisciplinary artist is gaining international recognition for work that engages deeply with the Valley’s culture, traditions and social realities.
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The artist, Insha Manzoor, from Mattan in Anantnag district, currently has her works on display at a duo exhibition at Delhi’s Dhoomimal Art Gallery.
The exhibition features paintings and textile-based installations exploring themes of culture, womanhood and tradition, while drawing extensively on local materials, everyday symbols and traditional practices rooted in Kashmir.
Speaking with Excelsior, Insha said her artistic practice has evolved over time.
“I began with conventional painting, but gradually felt the need to work across multiple mediums to respond more honestly to my surroundings,” she said.
Insha said Kashmir remains central to her work, influencing her colour palette, materials and thematic concerns.
Traditional knotting practices commonly seen at shrines and homes have emerged as a recurring medium in her work, alongside references to Dal Lake, houseboats, fishing nets and textiles.
Insha said her practice has also shifted from creating individual objects to transforming entire spaces.
“My research on Kashmir’s houseboats pushed me towards thinking spatially and engaging with architecture and memory,” she said.
Themes of conflict, trauma and peace also find expression in her work, which she described as a “natural reflection of the social environment.”
“These themes are unavoidable when you live and work here,” she said, maintaining that art should function as “a space for dialogue and healing.”
Despite extensive international exposure, Insha continues to work from Kashmir. She said plans are underway to establish an art foundation.
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