Nasreen Askari (Pakistani, B.1950) Thar Karachi Thar Foundation Limited (with case)Nasreen Askari (Pakistani, B.1950)Thar: Karachi: Thar Foundation Limited 36.3 x 31.5cm (14 5/16 x 12 3/8in).with caseThe Thar desert, which straddles India and Pakistan, has for centuries been the subject of mystical fascination. The Thar occupies the north and north-eastern parts of Sindh in Pakistan and the western reaches of Rajasthan with Jaisalmer and Barmer at one end and Ganganagar at the other. In spite of the hostility of the terrain and the severity of its climate, it has a culture that is both colourful and distinct from that of neighbouring Sindh, Rajasthan or Gujarat.A number of books specific to Thar have been published over the years with almost all focussing on the Indian portion. This has limited appreciation of the Pakistani side of Thar which some might argue is more authentic, primeval and raw. This book, published privately and not available for commercial sale, fills this vacuum. Written by Nasreen Askari and lavishly illustrated with over 250 pictures and in a presentation box of its own, the book is a collector's item for anyone with an interest in the diversity of the Indian sub-continent. Nasreen Askari is an author, curator, director and co-founder of the Mohatta Palace Museum in Karachi. She has curated over 25 exhibitions at the Mohatta, now widely regarded as one of the leading museums in South Asia, at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and the Paisley Museum in Glasgow. Known for her publications on the textiles of the subcontinent, some notable works include, Colours of the Indus: Costumes and Textiles of Pakistan, Uncut Cloth, Textiles from India: The Global Trade and The Flowering Desert: Textiles from Sindh. She is the recipient of the Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai Medal in 2005 and the Pride of Performance Award in 2008.