For many, the unyielding texture of a shell serves as a metaphor for toughness, suggesting that the hardness of the exterior mirrors the strength of one’s mind. In this symbolic context, seashells become emblematic of resilience and determination, signifying an unwavering mindset that can weather life’s storms.
The culture of the Baloch people unfolds as a kaleidoscopic masterpiece, a rich and diverse tapestry skilfully woven with threads of history and identity. Nestled within the expansive embrace of the Balochistan region.The Baloch people cultivate a profound connection to their land, fostering not only a strong sense of community but a deep-seated love for the breathtaking sceneries that seamlessly intertwine land and water.
In the midst of these magnificent landscapes and awe-inspiring natural beauties, the Baloch people carve out their artistic legacy, a tradition surronded by uniqueness and splendor. Their artistic skilfullness is a symphony of distinctive painting styles, the delicate artistry of intricate embroidery, and the masterful craft of weaving that transcends mere skill to become a form of storytelling.
Language, music, art, and literature become the vibrant palette through which the Baloch people articulate their cultural heritage. In this symphony of artistry, the Baloch people not only preserve but elevate their cultural identity, weaving an enchanting narrative that transcends time and space.
We have one of the amzing Baloch artist here with us to get to know more about him and his art and their life in that mysterious land.
Welcome and Hello Ayoob, Hope you are doing well these days, Please tell us about yourself!
Hello and thanks to you for having me. I am so happy to have this chance to talk about my life journey and my people. My name is Ayoob Azarmina , I am 47 years old. In a quiet village, our family of nine, with three sisters and three brothers, faced the ups and downs of life in the midst of real tough times. I was the son of a hardworking farmer, and the dream of going to school was there, but it was tough because we didn’t have much money.
I really wanted to learn, so I decided to make things happen. After school, I started working at a local restaurant. The clatter of dishes and the chatter of customers became the background music to my dreams. Every hour I spent working there was a step closer to making my dreams come true.
My hands got rough from all the hard work, but it wasn’t just for me—it was to help my family with money troubles. The sweat on my face wasn’t just from working; it was like the ink writing a story of sacrifice and sticking it out. When high school was ending, a new adventure awaited me in the navy—a chance for a better future.
But, you know, life doesn’t always go the way you plan. There was this cool opportunity to work on an oil tanker in Tehran, but family responsibilities kept me rooted in our village. So, I tried something else—I opened a little shop with basic things for homes.
In that small shop, I found a hidden passion. I realized I loved shells, probably because of all those times by the sea with family and friends. Each shell became a memory, a way to hold onto the connection I felt with the sea.
So, in the midst of all the challenges, a story unfolded—a story about growing up poor, overcoming tough times, and finding a special love for the sea, all wrapped up in the beauty of shells.
Well Please Take us to your journey of shell jewelery making ;
Back when I was 17 or 18, I got really into shells. I noticed that a bunch of cool shell artwork was coming from Pakistan, so I decided to go there and check things out. I learned about their way of working with shells, but honestly, I wasn’t a big fan of what they were doing. I thought I could make it more artsy and unique.
They had these different types of shells that I still import and work on. So, I kind of expanded my thing on both sides of the sea—from the beaches in Iran to the ones in Pakistan. I started from scratch, building up my business little by little. In the beginning, I was doing everything myself, like 100%.
But over time, I started outsourcing some of the processes. I even had a workshop going on for a while, but when COVID hit, I had to close it down. Now, I just provide the main stuff to the basic operators, show them the ropes, and then buy the finished products from them. Oh, and I’ve got a shop too.
So yeah, I used to do everything on my own, but bit by bit, I got others involved in different parts of the process.
Can you tell us about the process involved in crafting jewelry from seashells Back then?
So, there were these families living by the beach, and I used to get seashells from them. Sometimes I’d gather all the kids around, and together we’d head to the beach to collect the shells. These shells, they were a bit stinky. And, you know, cleaning them was a real challenge. I had to scrub them with whitex to get rid of the smell. Then came the tricky part—I had to polish them with hot water and acid. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you. After that, I figured out how to shape them and do this cool technique called direct carving. Back in the day, I used to write on them with oil painting.
But things evolved, and I learned a new method using laser cut , and that’s when I started writing cool patterns on them.
Oh,It’s been quite a journey with these seashells! I am curious to now How did you enhance the quality of your artworks, considering the absence of internet access and contemporary trends during that period?
I was super passionate about my art—putting my whole heart and soul into it. I used to show my creations to tourists and listen carefully to what they thought. I always wanted to get better at what I was doing, so I’d soak in their opinions and try to see things from their perspective. Their worldly viewpoints and modern ideas helped me improve my work. It was like this ongoing exchange of ideas that fueled my creative journey.
So, at first, I started making shell jewelry just because I loved it. It was more like a passion project, you know? But then, life happened, and at 23, I got married. Suddenly, things got real and I had to work more to support my family and cover all those expenses that life throws at you. It was time to be serious.
After having kids, I decided to turn my little shop into something special. I focused it all on crafting seashell jewelry by hand. It became more than just a hobby; it became my way of providing for my family and doing something I truly loved. Life took a turn, and my little shop transformed into a place where the magic of seashell jewelry happened.
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