Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, 35, a self-taught artist from Ganderbal district in Jammu and Kashmir, has been passionately pursuing his passion of creating art using pebbles for the past two decades. Though he does not hold any formal education or training in arts, Ahmad has continued to follow his calling with dedication.
During his school days, Ahmad used to experiment with watercolour and sketching. However, it was during his treks to the beautiful mountains of his district that he discovered his true inspiration. The coloured stones he saw along the trekking routes fascinated him, leading him to begin practising this form of art with pebbles.
Using a mortar and pestle, Ahmad first grinds the stones he collects to create his artworks. Unlike the traditional way of making mosaic art, his approach involves using these coloured stones or pebbles to create portraits and paintings.
Though he sometimes finds it challenging to find specific stones, Ahmad has gained experience and now knows where to look along the trekking routes to find the desired colours. His talent also caught the attention of Mahmood Shah, Director, Handloom and Handicrafts Department, Jammu and Kashmir, who promised to help him showcase his works.
Ahmad’s message to other artisans is to share their art with the world and not keep it to themselves. He believes that every artist has the potential to make a mark in the market.
Also Read: The Irula tribe of Tamil Nadu and their sacred stones
Rayees Ramzan is a freelance writer based in Jammu and Kashmir. Tawheeda Nissar is a journalist based in Kashmir who works with Video Volunteers.
Edited by: Novita Singh
