Textiles from the Ladakh Himalayas with Monisha Ahmed
Ladakh: A Rich Textile Tradition
Situated in the high reaches of the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges, Ladakh boasts a highly diverse textile tradition that reflects its physical, socio-economic, and cultural environment. The fabrics range from elaborately patterned prestige garments made from trade textiles to simple homespun materials produced from locally available resources like wool and pashmina. These textiles serve not only as apparel, containers, and coverings but also speak volumes about life in the region, fulfilling religious and social obligations. As offerings or obligatory gifts, textiles indicate rank and status and demarcate sacred and secular spaces.
Weaving is practised throughout Ladakh, with notable differences between agricultural and nomadic communities. The craft holds strong symbolic representations and interpretations that resonate deeply within Ladakhi life. The act of weaving and the resulting fabric engage with Ladakhi society, upholding values and defining gender roles. Weaving is closely tied to birth and life, with the making of cloth seen as an expression of a family network. These strong associations have significant implications for the craft's continuity.
Presentation Overview
The Fabric of Life - Textiles from the Ladakh Himalayas by Monisha Ahmed will explore the history of fibres and textiles in Ladakh, their use, and their transformation over time. It will discuss traditional weaving systems in Ladakh and their symbolic representations in Ladakhi life. It will examine changes brought about first by the Moravian Missionaries and government Handicraft Centres, and more recently by Ladakhi fashion designers. The presentation will ultimately consider whether these transformations have impacted the craft's engagement with Ladakhi life and if the next generation of Ladakhis will continue to recognise its importance.
Special Guest Lecture by Monisha Ahmed
In this first hybrid event, Selvedge has invited Monisha Ahmed to deliver a special guest lecture on Textiles from the Ladakh Himalayas. Ahmed is an independent researcher whose work focuses on art practices and material culture in Ladakh. Her doctoral degree from Oxford University led to the book "Living Fabric – Weaving among the Nomads of Ladakh Himalaya" (Orchid Press, 2002), which received the Textile Society of America’s R. L. Shep award in 2003 for the best book in the field of ethnic textile studies. She has since co-edited "Ladakh – Culture at the Crossroads" (Marg Publications, 2005), collaborated on "Pashmina – The Kashmir Shawl and Beyond" (Marg Publications 2009 and 2017), and published numerous articles on the textile arts of Ladakh and other parts of the Himalayan world, including contributions to "The Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion" (Berg Publishers, 2010). Ahmed has also written on textiles in other areas of India, including a chapter for "The Arts and Interiors of Rashtrapati Bhavan – Lutyens and Beyond" (Rashtrapati Bhavan, 2016), and the catalogue "Woven Treasures – Textiles from the Jasleen Dhamija Collection" (Saffronart, 2016). More recently, she was an advisor for the Bhau Daji Lad Museum’s online exhibit "We Wear Culture" for the Google Cultural Institute. Formerly Associate Editor of Marg, she is co-founder and Executive Director of the Ladakh Arts and Media Organisation (LAMO), Leh.
Situated in the high reaches of the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges, Ladakh boasts a highly diverse textile tradition that reflects its physical, socio-economic, and cultural environment. The fabrics range from elaborately patterned prestige garments made from trade textiles to simple homespun materials produced from locally available resources like wool and pashmina. These textiles serve not only as apparel, containers, and coverings but also speak volumes about life in the region, fulfilling religious and social obligations. As offerings or obligatory gifts, textiles indicate rank and status and demarcate sacred and secular spaces.
Weaving is practised throughout Ladakh, with notable differences between agricultural and nomadic communities. The craft holds strong symbolic representations and interpretations that resonate deeply within Ladakhi life. The act of weaving and the resulting fabric engage with Ladakhi society, upholding values and defining gender roles. Weaving is closely tied to birth and life, with the making of cloth seen as an expression of a family network. These strong associations have significant implications for the craft's continuity.
Presentation Overview
The Fabric of Life - Textiles from the Ladakh Himalayas by Monisha Ahmed will explore the history of fibres and textiles in Ladakh, their use, and their transformation over time. It will discuss traditional weaving systems in Ladakh and their symbolic representations in Ladakhi life. It will examine changes brought about first by the Moravian Missionaries and government Handicraft Centres, and more recently by Ladakhi fashion designers. The presentation will ultimately consider whether these transformations have impacted the craft's engagement with Ladakhi life and if the next generation of Ladakhis will continue to recognise its importance.
Special Guest Lecture by Monisha Ahmed
In this first hybrid event, Selvedge has invited Monisha Ahmed to deliver a special guest lecture on Textiles from the Ladakh Himalayas. Ahmed is an independent researcher whose work focuses on art practices and material culture in Ladakh. Her doctoral degree from Oxford University led to the book "Living Fabric – Weaving among the Nomads of Ladakh Himalaya" (Orchid Press, 2002), which received the Textile Society of America’s R. L. Shep award in 2003 for the best book in the field of ethnic textile studies. She has since co-edited "Ladakh – Culture at the Crossroads" (Marg Publications, 2005), collaborated on "Pashmina – The Kashmir Shawl and Beyond" (Marg Publications 2009 and 2017), and published numerous articles on the textile arts of Ladakh and other parts of the Himalayan world, including contributions to "The Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion" (Berg Publishers, 2010). Ahmed has also written on textiles in other areas of India, including a chapter for "The Arts and Interiors of Rashtrapati Bhavan – Lutyens and Beyond" (Rashtrapati Bhavan, 2016), and the catalogue "Woven Treasures – Textiles from the Jasleen Dhamija Collection" (Saffronart, 2016). More recently, she was an advisor for the Bhau Daji Lad Museum’s online exhibit "We Wear Culture" for the Google Cultural Institute. Formerly Associate Editor of Marg, she is co-founder and Executive Director of the Ladakh Arts and Media Organisation (LAMO), Leh.
Event Details
Join us at The Art Workers' Guild, 6 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AT on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 18:00 BST (British Summer Time, London, UK).
Alternatively, you can connect to the event online via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to ticket holders a week before the event. The event will be recorded and the recording sent to ticket holders after the event.
Images courtesy of Monisha Ahmed and Hashim.
Find out more and book your tickets here:
www.selvedge.org/products/tuesday-2-july-2024-talk-with-monisha-ahmed-the-fabric-of-life-textiles-from-the-ladakh-himalayas