The Story of Shoka
In the Upper Chitral region of Pakistan, communities in Harchin and Broke practice distinct craft traditions tied to their environment and daily life. In Broke, apricot wood is carved into musical instruments like the sitar, a craft now carried forward by only two artisans known as Sitar sauziyek. The sitar features in a local folktale and plays a role in cultural storytelling. In Harchin, the shoka, a woollen men’s coat made from sheep and yak wool, is both functional and symbolic. It is woven and sewn by older men in the family, with variations like the simple Kaarbeli, the decorative Tak Daaro worn at weddings, and the Roiru shoka made for special occasions. The Barwaazi melody is associated with ceremonial wear of the shoka during community events. Historically, the garment’s long arms served multiple purposes, from carrying grain to providing privacy.
This exhibit looks at the story of the craft that is made up of time, matter and motivation. The aim is to preserve the local practice embedded in landscape and leverage it for sustainable economic development of craft communities.