An-Kahi Kahani (The Untold Story)
An-Kahi Kahani (The Untold Story)
Date
2020
Edition Size
unique
Media
Embroidery, Ink, Textile
Format
Artist Book
Dimensions
8 × 5.5 × 1 in
Pages
6
Collection
Collection Development, Unique Books$ 2,800.00
Unavailable
View Collectors
University of Puget Sound
An-Kahi Kahani (The Untold Story) has a completely entrancing structure, most reminiscent of some ancient prayer book, that unfolds itself in your hands like soft yet disturbing wings of sorrow. Its dramatic tactility reinforces the authority of the voice of the book. It is as if the book itself is the protagonist of the poem. Like most of Halah Khan’s work, ultimately, the subjectivity of the reader is absorbed into the book’s story. The book is ourselves speaking to ourselves.
Text within the Book:
سمندر کی خاموشی میں، لہروں تلے
Through the silence of the ocean, beneath the wavesکسی خواب کا انتظار کرتے ہوئے
Waiting for a dreamتمہیں ایک کہانی سنانی ہے
I have a story to tell youیہ در و دیوار تھک چُکے ہیں میری آواز سے
These walls have grown tired of my voiceوہ دشت یاد ہے۔۔۔ جہاں میرا گھر تھا۔۔۔
Remember that desert… where my home used to be…مجھے اس تک پہنچا دو
Take me to itوہ مجھ سے بھول گیا ہے
I have lost its memoryایک ہی وعدہ تھا تم سے
This was my only promise to youایک کہانی سنانی ہے بس
Only a story to tellجانے کتنی صدیاں بیت گئیں
Don’t know how many centuries passedتمہیں آواز دیتے دیتے
Calling out to youایک کہانی سنانی تھی۔۔۔
I had a story to tell…