AISHA KHALID

TWO WORLDS AS ONE

STATENS MUSEUM FOR KUNST COPENHAGEN, DENMARK 2016, ART BASEL HONG KONG 2018, FRERE HALL KARACHI, PAKISTAN 2021, GOVETT-BREWSTER ART GALLERY/LEN LYE CENTRE, NEW ZEALAND 2023

This artwork, comprising two monumental tapestries titled Two Worlds As One, was commissioned by the Staten Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen in 2016. Thousands of pins pierce the fabric of both tapestries, creating a recurring pattern of a figure from a Persian miniature painting carrying a burden on his back, set amid lush foliage. One tapestry is made from deep red velvet, symbolizing privilege and opulence, while the other uses camouflage print, alluding to nature, greenery, and the constant presence of war and unrest.

Through its title and imagery, rooted in Persian tradition, Aisha Khalid draws attention to the stark disparities between Eastern and Western societies. Where the tapestries face each other, the gold and silver glimmers from the sharp ends of the pins reveal their dual nature—shiny and alluring, yet dangerous. This visual tension underscores the complex interplay between beauty, power, and violence, highlighting the contrast between the worlds represented by the two fabrics.

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