An introduction to traditional Herat illumination techniques.
Join artist Sher Ali for an introduction to the intricate art of Tazhib, a traditional form of manuscript illumination built through repetition and delicate ornamental patterns. Participants will learn some of the fundamental principles behind constructing an illuminated design, beginning with line and pattern before adding colour and painted detail.
The workshop offers a hands-on introduction to a practice historically associated with illuminated manuscripts and miniature painting, while encouraging participants to explore its visual language through the composition.
All materials provided. This workshop is suitable for all levels. Beginners welcome.
After the workshop, see Sher Ali’s artwork in Chogh چوغ showing at Bundoora Homestead Art Centre until Sat 24 October 2026.
Ages
Suitable for ages 16+
Date
Saturday, 24 October, 10am – 1pm
Cost
$35 per person + booking fee
About the Facilitator
Sher Ali, a Hazara visual artist born in Kabul Afghanistan, began his artistic journey at a local art centre before studying at Kabul’s Art High School. He later received a BFA scholarship from the South Asia Foundation and continued his studies at Beaconhouse National University in Lahore.
His practice explores his personal and collective experiences shaped by shifting social and political realities. Rooted in the visual language of miniature painting, his work reinterprets traditional forms to create images and environments that feel both precise and unsettled.
Working across painting, installation, moving image, and textile-based processes including embroidery, he constructs layered spaces where figures, patterns, and surfaces suggest states of transformation, vulnerability, and perception.
Rather than offering fixed narratives, his work invites a slower encounter, where meaning emerges through atmosphere, detail, and repetition.
Sher Ali has exhibited internationally and relocated to Australia in 2021. He is currently based in Melbourne, where he continues to develop his practice.
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