Roses of Humanity: A Poignant Memorial in Bloom
A deeply emotional and evocative art installation titled Roses of Humanity has opened its doors at the Ustad Allah Bux Gallery 4 in Lahore’s Alhamra Cultural Complex. On display until May 18, the exhibition honors the memory of 15,000 children killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
Organized by Labour & Love in collaboration with Bargain Basement Sale (BBS), the installation allows visitors to walk through a symbolic rose garden composed entirely of hand-stitched fabric roses. Each flower represents a single child lost, handcrafted by women artisans from Lahore’s Sheikhupura and Mehmood Booti neighborhoods. The immersive display combines grief, art, and remembrance in a powerful testament to resilience and unity.
A Garden of Grief and Unity
Visitors are greeted by a gentle breeze and the soft scent of roses, setting the tone for a solemn journey through collective mourning. Upon entry, exhibition director Nuria Rafique-Iqbal explains the emotional and logistical labor behind the project. “Each rose is a tribute—a soul remembered,” she shares. Crafted using recycled fabrics, the roses vary in shape and color to reflect the diversity of humanity.
The installation mirrors the layout of a natural rose garden, with dim lighting and quiet rules reinforcing the space as one of reflection. Every rose includes a plastic tag with the name of a child, sourced from data provided by the Shireen Observatory, an organization tracking Israeli military aggression. A documentary playing in the background captures the six-month-long process behind the creation, spotlighting the artisans and the spirit driving the initiative.
After a minute of silence for the children, the room is illuminated with special lighting to resemble the Rosette Nebula, transforming the installation into a celestial tribute.
Stitching for a Cause
The experience continues upstairs, where photographs document the rose-making process. Wall hangings list the names of 15,000 children, and visitors are invited to write the names of an additional 3,800 children on tags and hang them beside white acrylic roses.
Artisans involved in the creation shared their stories at the opening. Salma Arfa led a team of 20 women crafting nearly 200 roses daily. “We take pride in working with our hands,” she said. Zebunnisa, managing production in Sheikhupura, emphasized the importance of balancing work with domestic responsibilities. The women worked from home, contributing to a project that gave emotional and economic support.
A small charity stall outside the gallery sells t-shirts and candles, with all proceeds going to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund’s Gaza Child Amputee Fund. Visitors can also sponsor a rose through the initiative’s official website. The exhibition was conceptualized with artistic direction by Sahr Bashir and curatorial consultation by Amira Haroon.
