Art and Crafts
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Improvements in craftsmanship, piece by piece and time and time again, did not lead to a reduction in skill. If only it did!
Simplifications of craftsmanship, more and more, lead to mass production and the generation of larger financial reserves. Unfortunately, that's how it is!
The unique is being displaced by the advertised, individual production is declining, and standardization leads to ever greater uniformity!
For the unique, the following should apply: limitation and production below the B-E-Point; for the widespread, the following applies: more marketing and production above the B-E-Point!
The unique selling point of the unique is that it is local and timeless, and is tied to its preservation as a world cultural heritage; the widespread is global and international, as well as short-term!
The unique has its price and should be supported and promoted. The widespread, mass-produced product derives its value from global and international marketing, whereby resource depletion and environmental destruction go hand in hand with robotics, standardization, and anonymization, readily understood as progress by the standardized society.
Labels: Handicrafts, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:12 AM,
,
COTHM Pays Tribute to Dr. Senta Siller
Friday, May 22, 2026
This short video clip captures a beautiful part of his heartfelt and extraordinary tribute in the presence of Dr. Siller and her husband Dr. Norbert Pintsch.
Labels: COTHM, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 8:52 AM,
,
Every Thatta Kedona logo carries a story — a vision shaped by people, ideas and dedication
Sunday, May 17, 2026
The logo of Anjuman-e-Falah-e-Aama (AFA) was originally conceptualised by Mr. Amjad Ali, current President of the organisation, and later transformed into its final visual identity by Lahore-based creative professional Mr. Anees Yaqub.
The Thatta Kedona logo traces its roots back to the inspiring vision of German creative pioneer Dr. Senta Siller, who laid the foundation of this handicrafts initiative decades ago. Over time, the logo was further refined and given its present form by Mr. Ghulam Mustafa Mughaljee from Okara.
Both emblems reflect more than organisations and projects — they represent community spirit, cultural heritage, creativity, and years of collective effort connected to village Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka.
Labels: Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:22 AM,
,
Empowering Communities: A Visit of Hope
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Among the matters discussed were the construction of a tough tile-paved street leading to the handicrafts center, a less than one-kilometer soling road from More Shaikhu to the Village, and the transformation of the old pond area into an entertainment and recreation park for women and children.
Labels: TGD, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:19 AM,
,
Spotlight on Rural Craftsmanship
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Hope to see you at Lahore American School, 15 Canal Bank Rd, Upper Mall, Lahore. Don’t miss it if you’re in Lahore.
Labels: Bazaar, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:17 AM,
,
UO pays tribute to Dr Senta Siller’s services
Sunday, April 5, 2026
In recognition of the German artist and academician Dr Senta Siller’s services for women empowerment, gender mainstreaming and female entrepreneurship, a seminar was organized by the Directorate of External Linkages and Directorate of Public Relations at the University of Okara where the Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Sajjad Mubin, and various member of Okara’s civil society paid tribute to Dr Siller who is currently visiting Pakistan along with her husband, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch. A large number of faculty members and students from the Weekend Program participated in the event.
Prof Mubin announced to name the under-construction girls hostel at the campus after Dr Siller. Amjad Ali, a correspondent of the German broadcasting service and an academician, briefed about the project “Thatta Kedona”, initiated by Dr Siller in 1990s. He told how the project had empowered thousands of village women and changed the socio-economic dynamics of the village.
Dr Siller, in her keynote address, explained the factors that led to her motivation of investing her energies for the project. Dr Pintsch told the journey of Dr Siller. The other speakers included a Aslam Tahir ul Qadri, a renowned social worker from Okara, and Chaudary Maqsood Ahmed Jutt, a representative of various agricultural bodies of Pakistan.
.jfif)
The event was moderated by the Deputy Director (Press, Media & Publications) at the UO, Sharjeel Ahmed.
Labels: Amjad Ali, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Okara, Thatta Kedona, Tribute, University of Okara
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 12:51 PM,
,
Thatta Kedona in the University of Okara
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Labels: Amjad Ali, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Okara, Thatta Kedona, Tribute, University of Okara
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 4:47 PM,
,
Thatta Kedona at DACCHI Bazaar in LAHORE
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Labels: DACCHI, Lahore, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:30 AM,
,
Off to Thatta Kedona
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Unimaginable – a generation ago, the journey from Lahore to Thatta Ghulamka Dheroka (TGD) took eight hours; a round trip in one day was hardly possible. Tongas and rickshaws were the usual means of transport in rural areas. There wasn't a single gas station between Lahore and Okara.
The situation improved with the construction of the Lahore-Multan Highway, so that visitors, by car or bus (e.g., from universities), increasingly visited the village of TGD.
Sustainable tourism developed. Guests could stay overnight with accommodation and meals; thanks to the drinking water project, fish could be offered for local consumption; neem tree leaves for insect repellent were available, as were sugarcane spread and fresh buffalo milk.A prize was regularly awarded for the most beautiful mud house (Preservation of Cultural Heritage).
The project's sustainability in this context was repeatedly hampered by major political events (nuclear tests), security concerns, and natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and pandemics, so that domestic and international guests and visitors could take advantage of the pleasant temperatures between September and March.
TK (Thatta Kedona) lives on, preserving its traditional character. Local culture and looks optimistically to the future:
-In 2019, an art project (Artist in Residence Peter Hecht) was successfully carried out,
-In 2021, the crime novel *The Village of Dolls* by Hans Sachs was published,
-In 2024, Dr. Gwendolyne Kulick received her doctorate with a research dissertation in which the TK project also played a role.
-In 2025, after 25 years, the doll project participated in the Bazaar 2025 in Berlin with its own stand, under the patronage of Dr. Senta – a wonderful sign of the connection between tradition and the future.
Labels: Dolls Toys and More, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Gwendolyn Kulick, Peter Hecht, TGD, Thatta Kedona, The Village of Dolls
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 3:15 PM,
,
Thatta Kedona is more than dolls and toys
When the article "German Connection" by Asgher Javed appeared in Nation, Sunday Plus, April 27, 2008, p. 14, readers were probably unaware of the connections between the three women in the village project; among other things, Ruth Pfau had a connection to Mango-Pir near Karachi with the workshop for leprosy patients there, and Annemarie Schimmel had a connection to TGD because of the vibrant local, traditional culture.
In one case, the Ruth Pfau Basic Health Unit was created, and in the other, the Annemarie Schimmel Cultural Complex, where theater performances, film screenings, and village music concerts took place!
Senta Siller's work was not only that of a -researcher (fieldwork in the Five Provinces), -designer (dolls based on village life), -producer (marketable items), -teacher (training village women), -marketing strategist (museums at home and abroad), -networker (Schimmel-Pfau-Kenoyer-Salima Hashmi/Ex-NCA Lahore, DSFestival, Expo 2000, 2005), but she is rightly considered an anthropologist. All of this demonstrates the visibility and awareness of local village culture, bridging the gap between science and culturally informed consumption, while also creating sustainable measures for village women.
Incidentally, village dolls are housed in the Lok Virsa Museum in Islamabad, and thanks to the IWSA Prize, village toys found their way to the Children's Museum in Izmir!
It all began with the production of the film "Amjad's Village," a 24-hour glimpse into village life in TGD. An interesting article by Maqbool Malik, "Planning of a Model Village," was published in Dawn in 1994. Numerous articles by journalists have praised the project, which, through Senta Siller, has received several awards, including one from UNESCO in 2007, recognizing it as the outstanding doll project in South Asia. Ultimately, it's all on the path to UNESCO World Heritage status.
Labels: Amjad Ali, Annemarie Schimmel, BHU, Dr Ruth Pfau, Dr Senta Siller, Germany, Pakistan, TGD, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:08 AM,
,
The web never forgets – so says
Monday, January 26, 2026
Since 2000, village project information has been primarily disseminated online; since January 2004, there has been a dedicated blog: www.THATTAKEDONA.blogspot.com
Only those who browse the blog will realize that while the flagship project of dolls and handicrafts has successfully established itself as a tradition (an initiative of Dr. Senta Siller), behind and beneath the surface of these crafts were a multitude of other projects that also addressed the future.
Photovoltaics, harnessing wind power with kites, windmills for electricity generation, sustainable and climate-friendly construction with clay, internet radio, and much more were topics intended as inspiration but have since become part of the urban culture; for example, the Photovoltaic system (the first and only private installation in Pakistan in 1997).
Student groups from NCA, UEAT, Comsats, BNU, and PU traveled by bus to the AFA's Technology and Transfer Centre in Thatta Ghulamkha Dhirokha.
The AFA's TTTC conducted workshops in Karachi and Abbottabad, experimental houses were built in Lahore, and an Institute for Experimental Building was established there. The FPAC's magazine, GREENMAG, featured several articles showcasing certain results of the TTTC. At the former NWFP, special houses with adapted technology were built for flood victims.
Not only did the AFA's WAC, now the Senta Siller Design Centre, operate outside the region, but the TTTC also collaborated with the CAT in Cameroon and TM in Colombia, where institutes were established at universities. A dedicated university for Appropriate Technology and Traditional Medicine was even founded in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.
Labels: Culture, Dr Senta Siller, Prof Dr Norbert Pintsch, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:44 AM,
,
Bazaar 2025 in Berlin
Thursday, November 6, 2025
The project soon led to subsidiary projects (Cameroon, Colombia, among others) and gained recognition through EXPO 2000 in Hanover and Aichi (Japan). The dolls received a UNESCO award and were sold as a special item in Dubai, at the United Nations in New York, and at museum bazaars in Central Europe – always under the motto "unique pieces, not mass-produced" and with the vision: "Preservation of local traditional culture and UNESCO World Heritage..."
Labels: Cultura e V Nauen, DGFK e V Berlin, Dr Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:49 AM,
,
Senta Maria Anna Siller Awarded Sitara-e-Pakistan
Saturday, August 16, 2025
To ensure authenticity, Dr. Siller herself travelled to northern Pakistan to study traditional attire, including that of the Kalash people, believed to be descendants of Alexander the Great’s soldiers. Over time, these handcrafted items were not only showcased in major Pakistani cities but also internationally — particularly in Germany — under the name Thatta Kedona.
The project brought more than just recognition. It offered the village women a steady source of income, enhancing their self-esteem and improving their position in a traditionally patriarchal society. But Dr. Siller’s vision went far beyond dolls. She contributed immensely to the welfare and development of the village. She helped build and furnish the primary school, provided students with free books and stationery, and played a key role in introducing solar power and later connecting the village to the electricity grid. Thanks to her, a proper asphalt road was constructed, connecting the main road to the Women Art Centre, which was later renamed Senta Siller Design Center (SSDC) in her honour. Dr. Siller also initiated a clean drinking water project that serves the entire village. She launched a green initiative, encouraging tree planting and environmental care. Her idea "One Baby, One Tree" provided each newborn’s mother with a fruit tree, encouraging them to nurture the tree as they would their child.
As a symbolic gesture, every doll-maker received a Bougainvillea plant, so that blooming flowers in front of homes would signal to visitors: a doll-maker lives here.
Dr. Siller's efforts transformed Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka — not just in infrastructure, but in spirit. To provide basic healthcare to the people of Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, a village dispensary was established as early as 1992 by Dr. Leila Siller, a medical doctor and the daughter of Dr. Senta Siller. The nearest hospital is five kilometres away, so the dispensary became a lifeline for the local community. Dr. Senta Siller personally supervised and supported the handicrafts project until 2007, before returning to Germany. She left the initiative in the capable hands of a self-organised group of village women, empowering them to run it independently. To this day, she remains in regular contact with them through occasional Zoom conferences, offering guidance on handicrafts and welfare-related matters.
Today, the villagers are overjoyed by the announcement that the Government of Pakistan will honour Dr. Senta Siller with the Sitara-e-Pakistan (also known as Sitara-e-Imtiaz) in recognition of her outstanding service. She will celebrate her 90th birthday this year and is expected to receive the award in person on March 23, 2026.
Previous: Governor Award Conferred Upon Senta Maria Anna Siller
Labels: Amjad Ali, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Germany, Okara, Pakistan, Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:26 AM,
,
Thatta Kedona
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Labels: Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 5:46 PM,
,
Thatta Kedona Dolls Shop
Thursday, June 26, 2025
Labels: Dolls, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 11:30 AM,
,
The activities of Senta Siller
more than 75 years of successful work are
recorded in the following list:
Publications:
Catalogue, 46 p., © 2015
Compilation, 60 p.,© 2021
SSI 88, 110 p., © 2023
Paper Cut, 36 p.,© 2024
Musicales, 56 p., © 2024
AphoMics, 44 p., © 2024
KOB (Children's Outerwear), 44 p., © 2024
Puppetery, 88 p., © 2024
Naturales, 50 p., © 2024
Materiales, 34 p., © 2024
Fairytales and Toys, 36 p., © 2024
Marketing, 50 p. © 2024
Social, 36 p., © 2024
Training, 40 p. , © 2024
Research, 40 p., © 2024
Privado, 112 p., © 2025
and compiled from the archives
/SentaSillerArchiv-Landgut Stober-Cultura e.V. Nauen + ForZat-HVK-DGFK e.V. Berlin
Al Andalus 1954, 44 p., © 2023
Greece 1955, 44 p., © 2023
Three Little Dragon 1967, 24 p., © 2024
Marienleben 1970, 40 p., © 2023
Gnomi, 1985, 56 p., © 1985
Labels: A-e-F-e-A, Dr Senta Siller, Sparc Project, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:57 AM,
,
Between Rest and Travel
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
April 8th - April 18th: Budapest, Shanghai, Auckland / New Zealand Congress of the International Lyceum Club in Tauranga, Meeting with friends from Switzerland, France, and Australia / Remembrance: Isabel Mertel, volunteer at TGD and artist, Sydney, Melbourne / Home of Dr. Elizabeth, volunteer at TGD, -
Bali, Dili / Timor Leste, Meeting with chief of cabinet of the Ministry of Art and Culture,
Singapore, Istanbul
April 26th: Workshop at the Landgut Stober project with artists
April 28th: Meeting in Leipzig / Grassi Museum
May 1st: Meeting at the Kolbow exhibition with former student and artist from the DGFK Claudia Becker-Jung
May 2nd: Commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Berlin capitulation, together with GreatGrancChildren
May 3rd: Visit to the Anne Guetzlaff exhibition in Wasserburg
Heraklion-Souda-Kolymbari / Visit of Dr. Papaderos regarding the memorial for the civilian victims of Crete between 1941 and 1945
Meeting with Anna Papaderos regarding the contribution in the DGFK INTERNATIONAL booklet
.png)
Athens with a visit by the artist Spyros Kardamakis regarding the contribution in the DGFK INTERNATIONAL booklet
Visit regarding Greece doll project volunteer Dorit Savidou in Korapi
.png)
Tirana-Durres / Albania
Labels: DGFK, Dr Norbert Pintsch, Dr Senta Siller, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 6:05 PM,
,
Empowering Women Through Handicrafts: Thatta Kedona Website Launched
Monday, May 12, 2025
At this joyful milestone, we fondly remember the German artist, Graphic Designer and Anthropologist Dr. Senta Siller, who founded this remarkable project over three decades ago and will be celebrating her 90th birthday this year. We also pay tribute to her husband, Dr. Norbert Pintsch, who stood beside her throughout this inspiring journey.
Our heartfelt thanks go to the many volunteers from around the world—especially from Germany—who visited our hamlet, Thatta Ghulamka Dhiroka, in District Okara, Pakistan, and generously shared their knowledge and expertise with the local community.
We warmly invite you to visit the website and share your feedback with us.
Labels: Culture, Handicrafts, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 10:48 AM,
,
Punjab's Rich Heritage: Thatta Kedona's Handicrafts at Punjab Industrial Expo
Friday, April 25, 2025
Labels: Culture, Punjab, Punjab Industrial Expo, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 2:12 PM,
,
Celebrating Punjab's Rich Heritage
Friday, April 18, 2025
The Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore recently hosted a three-day Punjab Culture Day celebration, and Thatta Kedona was proud to represent the Sahiwal Arts Council and Sahiwal Division. The event, held from April 17 to 19, showcased the rich cultural heritage of Punjab, featuring traditional music, art, and folk traditions.
Thatta Kedona's stall was a highlight of the event, featuring an array of vibrant handicrafts that showcased the region's unique craftsmanship. The stall's centerpiece was the exquisite handmade ethnic Pakistani dolls, which were a testament to the skill and creativity of local artisans.
The event was honored by a visit from Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, who was impressed by Thatta Kedona's handicrafts. She particularly appreciated the handmade and unique dolls and crafts on display, praising the organization's efforts to promote Punjab's cultural heritage. Provincial Minister Azma Bukhari also visited Thatta Kedona stall.
Labels: Dolls, Handicrafts, Thatta Kedona
posted by S A J Shirazi @ 9:59 AM,
,
