This piece was inspired by Ispahan Carpet, by Elizabeth Burge

The inspiration for this sculpture was the poem “Ispahan Carpet”, by Elizabeth Burge, which depicts child weavers. As I have lived in Pakistan, and have similar traditional carpets in my home, the poem really struck a chord within me. Now, each time I walk across a beautiful carpet, I see little faces trapped in the intricate patterns. This is a piece of protest art. My intention was to draw attention to the plight of child weavers who are imprisoned and exploited.

The poet’s work focuses on the weavers, young girls whose "little fingers” tie “exquisitely minute knots”. Similarly, the focus of my sculpture is the hands. Against the shadowed interior, the hands are small and pale. Trapped behind the bars of the carpet, the fingers hold on desperately. This reflects the fate of the child weavers.