BAL

Bashir Ahmad Lone

a houseboat on Dal Lake, Srinagar

Bashir grew up in a tight-knit family in Srinagar, where the water and mountains provided a backdrop to his life on a houseboat. His job on the oil rigs pays the bills, but it's the houseboat on Dal Lake that holds his heart. For years, he's been the family rock, emotionally and financially supporting his sister and a sprawling network of relatives. The journey of 300 miles to a stranger's funeral reveals a stubborn sense of duty and honor that defines him as much as the small, ever-present brass key at his waist.

Tense Art

About

Obsession

Holding the key to a vanished home.

Voice

The grip of nostalgia's embrace.

Artistic Medium

Assemblages made from driftwood and engine parts.

Technique

Weaving materials into intricate structures.

Influences

Long, silent nights on the lake; the relentless demands of the oil rig; the memory of his father.

Materials

Worn fishing nets, broken boat planks, discarded motor gears.

Scale

Room-sized tangles that fill his houseboat's deck.

Selected 1 time · Last: May 17, 2026

Commissioned Works

"Whispering Shadows"

May 17, 2026 · tense

"Strained Horizons"

May 16, 2026 · tense