Post by: Amrinder Pal Singh

A Chinar Leaf in the Desert: Zubair Kirmani and the Journey of Kashmir at World Art Dubai

— DXB News Network | April 18, 2025 | Dubai

Dubai: As the doors of World Art Dubai 2025 opened to the world this April, the desert wind carried with it whispers from the mountains—soft, warm, and deeply moving. Among hundreds of global artists gathered here, one name has quietly bloomed like a Chinar leaf in spring—Zubair Kirmani, founder of Bounipun Kashmir.

He hasn’t just brought artwork to Dubai. He has brought a whole valley, woven in silk, wrapped in snow, echoing in every thread.

Kashmir is not just a region. It’s a poem written by time. From the peaceful waters of Nigeen Lake to the soul-stirring call of mosques at dawn, from the crisp rustle of Chinar leaves to the ageless hands weaving pashmina on ancient looms—Kashmir breathes in rhythm.

It is this rhythm that Zubair Kirmani translates into his work. “Kashmir is my beginning, my material, my meaning,” he says. And that is why every piece in his showcase—be it calligraphy on pashmina, or the geometry of karakul embroidery—feels like it is not made, but born.

Zubair’s art stands not just for Kashmir, but for India’s larger tapestry of tradition and transformation. A land where every region carries its own weave, its own pigment, its own soul. In Bounipun, we see the spirit of Indian craft—patient, precise, personal.

India, today, is not only preserving its heritage but evolving it. And artists like Zubair are the bridge—taking stories told in whispers by grandmothers and turning them into works that sit in global galleries and fashion capitals.

Launched in 2007, Bounipun—meaning Chinar Leaf in Kashmiri—is more than a fashion brand. It is a tribute. To roots, to resilience, to the timeless beauty of handmade art. Zubair’s designs are minimalist, but never empty. Each curve of embroidery, each pattern of thread carries memories—of old havelis, of snowflakes falling on temple steps, of whispered stories under woven shawls.His work empowers. Through government projects and social initiatives, Bounipun trains women artisans in Ladakh and Kashmir, giving them not just income—but pride, purpose, and presence.

Let us pause to honour the real star here—Pashmina. Not just a fabric. A feeling. Born high in the Himalayas, spun with care, and softened over fire and faith, Pashmina is Kashmir’s voice. It takes months to make a single piece, because it demands attention, love, and time. And Zubair’s pashmina is not just worn—it is witnessed. He paints it with poetry, embroiders it with prayer, and presents it like a sacred text of the valley. “True craft doesn’t chase trends. It tells the truth,” he says.

At DXB News Network, our mission is not only to report stories—but to host them. To open Dubai’s arms to the world’s artists, and say: “Welcome. You belong.”

In a world that often moves too fast, we believe in slowing down—to listen to brushstrokes, to understand weaves, to honour hands that create magic out of memory. Our coverage of World Art Dubai 2025 is a celebration—not just of global art, but of global hearts coming together in the UAE’s spirit of hospitality and harmony. By highlighting voices like Zubair Kirmani’s, we hope to inspire, connect, and remember—that art is not just what hangs on walls, but what stays in hearts.

Before he left, we asked Zubair: “If your journey could be written on a single Chinar leaf, what would it say?” He smiled and said, “From the quiet, snow-covered valleys of Kashmir to the global stage… a legacy woven with patience, a story told through every thread.”

And in that one answer, he reminded us all— That the most beautiful art doesn’t always shout. Sometimes, it just sits quietly… and stays forever.

DXB News Network: Where Art Comes Home.

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