Bark Cloth | Shafina Jaffer Art

Bagh-E-Tasleem

2m by 1.5m

Tree Bark cloth

Natural Pigments

Global Conference of the Birds

4 panels: 4m x 4m (each), depicting the 10th century poem by the Persian philosopher Attar; "The Conference of the Birds"

Tree Bark cloth

Natural Earth Pigments

Jhabo (Right) -Depicts the whole joorney of the Conference of the Birds, (12th Century Persian poem by Farid-Uddin Attar. Bark cloth painted with natural pigments.

Global Conference of the Birds

Jhabo (Right) -Depicts the whole journey of the Conference of the Birds, (12th Century Persian poem by Farid-Uddin Attar. Bark cloth painted with natural pigments.

Baby Jhabo (Left) -Depicts the future after meeting the Nur (Simurg, the mythical bird of light in the Conference of the Birds, (12th Century Persian poem by Farid-Uddin Attar. Hessian with bark cloth.

The Light She Carries

Hoopoe Ascends.

4m x 2m

Tree Bark cloth painted with natural pigments.

Resonances of Life

1.6m x 1.6m

Tree Bark cloth

Cow bone pigment, Malachite crystal, Gold, African medicinal clay, Moroccan Majorelle Blue , Masai hair dye and charcoal.

The bark of a tree is used to make bark cloth. It feels strong like leather and is very absorbing like human skin. These are meticulously painted on with a toothpick in charcoal, Malachite crystal , gold and pigment made from cow bone. The designs are inspired by henna art, nature and modern abstract and expresses the artists sense of synergy derived from her Indian African roots.