GUARDIANS OF THE MOUNTAINS

Title -Guardians of Mountains

Description - Handmade watercolour, including Afghan Lapis Lazuli and malachite, 24k gold leaf on handmade Indian wasli paper

Price - Available on enquiry, please kindly get in touch via the contact page

This diptych explores the devastating impact of deforestation in northern Pakistan’s mountains and Mobeen’s ancestral home in Kashmir. The mirrored landscapes contrast a thriving forest with barren, deforested slopes. In the first scene, lush trees anchor the soil, absorb water, and act as guardians against destructive floods.

In the second, the absence of trees leaves the land exposed and vulnerable. Without their protective canopy, floods ravage the slopes, eroding the soil and deepening the scars of destruction. This stark contrast underscores the fragile balance of nature and the far-reaching consequences of deforestation, highlighting Mobeen’s personal connection to a region where these environmental changes threaten both the land and the lives of its people.

Guardians of Mountains, inspired by Persian miniatures, is composed within a geometrically constructed rectangle, with the scene rendered in miniature form. Exaggerated, imagined colours bring the landscape to life, symbolizing the deep connection between the land, its trees, and its people—a thriving, balanced ecosystem that sustains life. The vivid hues reflect not only the physical beauty of the land but also the vibrant, harmonious relationship between people and nature.

Due to past floods, many have been forced to cut down trees for fuel and survival, while others exploit the demand, selling timber to those in need. Mobeen hopes this visual dialogue—depicting the before and after of this landscape—will draw attention to the urgent need for preservation before the mountains and trees are swept away forever.