A doll-maker’s dream of breaking taboos

Islamabad
The magic of creating is the most incredible part of the life of an artist, says Faryda Rehman, an artist and an educationist, working as a principal of a prestigious institution, and an experienced doll-maker of repute.
Following her passion for doll-making for last 20 years, Faryda continues to dream of breaking all social taboos by making her ‘exclusive craft’ a great learning experience for everyone here.
While talking to Faryda, one sees a link between education and passion coming together to make perfect lifestyle imbued with a sense of satisfaction in a perfect harmony with the world. Faryda feels that her ‘Exclusive’ dolls, intentionally or unintentionally, often resemble herself in various ways. However, she said, “if I were to consciously create a portrait of myself in a doll, I would hope that it would depict a woman who was in touch with all cultures and traditions of the world.” Faryda wants her dolls to ultimately depict the kind of woman that younger generations would come to, seeking knowledge.
Faryda says, “there are so many lessons that I have learned, and continue to learn throughout my creative sojourn. However, the most important lesson that I have learned is a deep understanding of life, to truly live in a manner which is harmonious with the earth and, furthermore, with the universe. If my art is to be a representation of anything, it will hopefully stand as a tribute to this sacred harmony and as a personal quest toward that harmony in my lifetime.”
To Faryda, the doll is the symbol of what lies buried in humans that is numinous. It is a small and glowing facsimile of the original self.
Superficially, it is just a doll, but inversely, it represents a little piece of soul that carries all the knowledge of the larger soul-Self. In the doll is the voice, in diminutive. In this way the doll represents the inner spirit of us as women; the voice of inner reason, inner knowing and inner

consciousness.
To say she is a unique individual doesn't begin to describe her.
Faryda lives in a world composed of magical moments as she creates her dolls with amazing skill resulting in mystifying experiences, and peace. Her creative soul expressed itself throughout her life balancing her love of the craft and skill of a doll maker and a talented artist.
Faryda’s stunning dolls surrounds her world with magical love.
Sharing her experiences locally and internationally, Faryda said that doll making is recognised as a unique skill and craft around the world while in Pakistan it remains a taboo to work on female form in 3D sculpted method. Travelling around the world, Faryda participated in a number of doll-makers workshops and conventions, getting the opportunity to interact with eminent doll-makers from around the globe.
Sharing her experience, Faryda said that the doll makers around the world are recognised as professionals for their unique craft and skills and enjoy great respect and appreciation. Faryda dreams of conducting workshop for doll making in Pakistan and transfer her skill and craft to those wanting to learn.
Faryda has many clients who got dolls made as their own replica, choosing their own dresses and Jewellery. Faryda said that the process becomes expensive due to the overall cost of personalized looks, materials and accessories. About introducing the skill and craft of doll making in Pakistan, Faryda said that nothing much is happening here apart from some rare occasions of organisation like Lok Virsa holding workshops of regional doll making, Faryda is very enthusiastic about working on the possibility of finding some likeminded people interested in the skill and introduce the craft in Pakistan on a serious note. However, the traditional form of Doll making remains different around the world and it would take a lot of hard work and uninterrupted time to learn this skill, Faryda adds. Faryda’s dolls are more lifelike, looking real, rather than camouflaged in costumes.
"I love the process of creating a doll", Faryda said as she continued describing her skill, sculpting a face in polymer clay, watching how the features change and become someone, adding a little more flavour with colour and impressions. Then she start playing dress up, fiddling with all the right materials to best bring about the transformation from clay into a Spirit. Faryda said, “I can get quite lost in the experiencing, digging into my own private universe and sharing the songs of my heart, letting my hands guide me one step at a time, building layer upon layer of fabric and fibres until I feel the doll is complete. Then I let the doll sit for a day or a week to ensure that they are ready for the world, stimulate a whole new side of my creativity and is equally satisfying.”
About materials she uses for her dolls, Faryda says she works with everything natural, most things beautiful and shiny objects. “I love moulding a face from a hunk of clay and using all the right tools necessary to get the desired effect. Beads and jewels and leaves and feathers and branches and yarns all bring out something different inside me and all are necessary for me to feel a sense of completion in creating a doll. I love transforming things that already have a purpose like buttons, doilies, luxurious fabrics and ordinary cheesecloth into something completely different and giving things a new purpose.
Faryda loves diversity as it allows her to learn much more about mix medium and helps her become better in her craft. Doll making is a labour of love but not an easy one. Faryda says that all craft people are not educated, but being an educationist and a craft person, she prefers her dolls to be collector’s item rather than child’s toy.