Curving path lined with scattered pink marble butterfly sculptures near a calm pond, set against dense greenery and a hill topped with shrubs and trees under cloudy skies.

99 Butterflies

Meherunnisa Asad with Studio Lél

99 Butterflies is inspired by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish’s haunting question: “Where will we go after the last frontiers? Where will the birds fly after the last sky?” Exploring displacement, sanctuary and longing, it’s the work of Studio Lél, founded in Peshawar, Pakistan by Farhana Asad and now led by her daughter, Meherunnisa Asad.

Explore the artwork through this series of photographs, videos and accompanying audio description.

Angled view of marble butterfly sculptures positioned alongside a grassy path near a pond, with dense shrubbery and a tree-covered hill rising behind the scene under an overcast sky.

Pathway leading down to a reflective pond, lined on either side with marble butterfly sculptures scattered across grassy and sandy ground, surrounded by rolling hills under cloudy skies.

Close-up view of pink marble butterfly sculptures arranged across a grassy field, with sunlight casting shadows beneath their wing-like shapes.

The individual stone artworks that make the work 99 Butterflies are made of intricately hand carved pieces of pink and purple stone in the shape of butterfly wings.

Wide view of pink marble butterfly sculptures spread across grassy ground near a small pond, framed by reeds and hillside vegetation in the background.

The butterflies are arranged as if in flight, with their wings raised. All the butterflies have an individual flight path, taking different directions across the ground.

Distant view of a sandy path lined with marble butterfly sculptures leading uphill, with a still pond reflecting the clear blue sky in the foreground and dense greenery framing the scene.

From a distance the butterflies are seen spreading out across a broad path down to the pond. Different sizes of butterfly are seen within the group and one large butterfly can be seen by the water’s edge.

Explore the details

Close-up of engraved pink marble, featuring butterfly and flower motifs in contrasting darker stone, with natural veining and cracks visible across the surface.

Butterfly-shaped marble sculpture viewed from above, its pink wings intricately decorated with inlaid floral patterns and birds, positioned on sunlit grass.

Low angle view of pink marble butterfly sculptures spread across a grassy field, with the nearest butterfly’s patterned wings prominently displayed in sunlight against a backdrop of hills and trees.

Detailed view of a butterfly-shaped marble sculpture wing, featuring carved butterflies, flowers, and birds in dark red stone, contrasting against the pale pink background with natural stone marbling.

Experience the sculpture through this video and audio description

Pink marble butterfly sculpture positioned beside a calm pond, with its open wings facing outward against a backdrop of grassy hills and bright blue sky.

Find out more about Meherunnisa Asad’s inspiration and process for creating 99 Butterflies in this video interview

The artist (Meherunnisa Asad) kneels beside one of their large butterfly marble sculptures near a pond, gently touching its patterned surface, with grassy hills and clear skies in the background.

Biography

Meherunnisa Asad is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the storytelling potential of art to reconstruct lost histories and reimagine identity for her community. At the heart of her practice is pietra dura – the intricate inlay of marble and gemstones – which she reinterprets through a range of techniques and her work is rooted in the landscapes of Peshawar and inspired by the layered aesthetics of Indian and Persian painting.

She is the Artistic Director of Studio Lél, which is an interdisciplinary atelier founded in Peshawar by, Asad’s mother, Farhana Asad.

Visit the Artist's website

The artist stands among her marble butterfly sculptures near a pond, facing the camera with grassy hills and a clear blue sky in the background.

"I'd like people to take away a sense of quiet reflection from the artwork, and also the idea that something as fragile as a butterfly can hold stories of strength and resilience"

– Meherunnisa Asad with Studio Lél

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