‘’When I was younger and used to visit my village, all my aunts would finish their morning chores and then bring out their embroidery.
They would sit on their chaarpais, each working on her own piece. I enjoyed sitting with them and spending time there.
Gradually, I sat with each one of them. One aunt taught me how to cross-stitch, while another introduced me to a different technique. I also learned various stitches and crafts from them. That’s how my interest in embroidery began during childhood.
Later, when I went to NCA and began working on my thesis, I created the Moon Series. It was inspired by Sindhi poetry, and I completed that work quite quickly. I had been collecting my hair for a long time, so I took it out, made a small grid on my sketchbook, pierced holes in it, and began stitching.
When I showed this piece to my teachers, they were very pleased. They encouraged me and said, "You’re doing great work—keep developing this further."
After that, I began exploring my childhood memories. I recalled old patterns, drew those images, and stitched them into my work.” — Rehana Mangi
‘INNOCENCE TO EXPERIENCE’ by Rehana Mangi
Witness the intricacy of a process “in which every stitch and pattern is counted and calculated”—where “grids, punched holes, and the stitching of fallen hair” become acts of remembrance, healing, and transformation.
Last week to experience the exhibition | May 25 – June 23, 2025
