BlogBack: Contemporary Afghan Jewelry Exporter Scorns Met’s Pricey Wares

Afghan silver and lapis tiered necklace from Artizan Sarai, $135

Mariam Atash Nawabi, co-founder of Artizan Sarai, an exporter of objects by artisans in economically disadvantaged areas of the world, including Afghanistan, India, Turkey, and Morocco, reponds to Golden Afghanistan Now at the Met: A Blockbuster for Love, Not Money:

I agree with you that the exhibition [the Metropolitan Museum's installation of the traveling show, Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul] was very well done. I also agree that the art merchandise at the Met missed the mark.

Although he is talented, inviting a Turkish jewelry designer [Gurhan Orhan] work on a piece that reflects Afghanistan's history and art is actually insensitive to the fact that there are many Afghan designers whose work could have been highlighted. I have worked on the arts/culture initiative, Artizan Sarai, which helps artisans in Afghanistan (as well as India and Turkey). We provided items for the National Gallery of Art and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco [previous venues for the Afghanistan show], but the Met wanted to focus on "higher end" pieces.

We believe that was a mistake. Afghan artisans produce very good quality pieces that can be considered "high end"; it just depends on who is evaluating it. Artizan Sarai 's goal is to have the pieces recognized as art and not "craftsy" items that can be mass produced. Developing an appreciation for the workmanship and time/effort in creating a piece shows respect for the culture itself.

We believe that with the right marketing and education, people will see the artistic skills that people have. They will see that people even in the most impoverished areas can create fine masterpieces reflected in embroidery, jewelry and other products. It is through that acceptance by which appreciation for Afghanistan's art and culture can truly be shown.

Contacted by CultureGrrl, Deborah Ziska, the National Gallery's chief of press and public information, confirmed that Artizan Sarai "provided jewelry and other items for our shop for the exhibition, and our shop operation was pleased with what was supplied."

But let's flee the giftshop and return to the superb show---COMING SOON.