An email arriving around Christmas last year took Saba Qizilbash by surprise. The Pakistani diaspora artist, who lives and practises in Oxford, England, initially struggled to believe what she was reading. Repatriation of Tipu’s Tiger (2022), one of her large-scale drawings, had been selected for ‘Musical Bodies’ at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in New York.

On view until September 27, 2026, ‘Musical Bodies’ brings together around 130 objects, spanning 4,000 years. Organised by Bradley Strauchen-Scherer, curator at The Met’s Department of Musical Instruments, the exhibition explores the relationship between musical instruments and the human body across cultures and centuries.

Once Qizilbash had spoken with the curator, surprise gave way to research. She began looking closely at the remarkable company her drawing would keep. Among the works is an Irish harp made by John Egan around 1821, alongside African instruments, including an Akan/Ashanti breasted drum. Elsewhere, objects ranging from ancient instruments to the singer Prince’s “Love Symbol” guitar extend the exhibition’s conversation across histories and........

© Dawn (Magazines)