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Jogi Art: A Novel Idea
Fine lines and dots fill up human, animal and inanimate forms that form unique narratives – two spiffy girls on a motorcycle, the hustle bustle of a crowd with skyscrapers in the background, a grazing cow and many more. Richly detailed and painted usually in monochrome, these paintings were made in the Jogi art form…
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A Beautiful Yarn: The last ply split braider’s journey from designer to artisan
With a lush ponytail and what seem like a dozen gold rings, Erroll Pires Nelson certainly has some serious style. At 6 feet 3 inches, he also towers over almost everyone. That persona evaporates the second he starts talking in his gentle, dulcet tone, telling the story of how he, an ex-National Institute of Design…
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Helping the hands that make magic: Jaypore partners with Kala Raksha Trust
Suf and kharek – just two of the embroidery styles that The Kala Raksha Trust – a grassroots social enterprise does in Kutch – has helped revive. In its newest initiative, the trust plans to train 100 women artisans to becomes skilled in working on museum quality textiles (embroidery that’s exquisite but dwindling). The program…
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Why the ‘Living Lightly: Journeys with Pastoralists’ exhibition is important
Living Lightly: Journeys with Pastoralists is a special exhibition that is on at the Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, New Delhi till December 18th, 2016. Curated by Sushma Iyengar, it tells the story of pastoralism through craft, art, food, poetry and music. It creates a platform for intersection and interaction for pastoral communities from…
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Vankars of Kutch: Preserving Traditions Of The Loom
Once upon a time, the nomadic, pastoral communities of Kutch roamed the salted marshes and the wetlands and traded with others for food and clothing. The roaming Rabaris who were sheep and camel herders supplied the Vankars or the traditional weavers with wool to turn into fabric. The Vankars and their entire families spent days,…
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Re-Inventing Khadi: A New Design Direction
Breathable, rhythmic, textured, a blank canvas, versatile – just some of the words used by people who have fallen for the charms of the homegrown khadi. Not only does this handspun fabric come with an entire nation’s history behind it, it is one of the most conscious and environmentally friendly. After years of being weighed…
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Road to Auroville: Why this commune attracts artists
Auroville is best known as a spiritual hotspot that attracts scores of people to its verdant, lush grounds, looking for peace and a meaning to their life. An ideal township, Auroville also attracts creative beings that are looking for a new approach to their life and work. Artists, designers and potters driven by their passion…
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Matters of the Art: In conversation with gallery owner Anchal Shinde
Shaped by her experiences and driven by her zest for art, curator and gallery owner Anchal Shinde is unapologetic about her views on the current Indian art scene. She studied commercial arts at South Delhi Polytechnic and fed her love for art with courses from the University of Melbourne and the School of Oriental and African Studies…
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The Grand Old Lady of Kutch: Chandaben Shroff (1933 – 2016)
The driving force behind Shrujan – Chandaben Shroff – passed away on August 23 at the age of 83. Fondly known as Kaki to everyone who had met her, Chandaben was a pioneer in the field of crafts conservation as she began working with artisans much before anyone else. As someone who has lived in…
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Maheshwar’s Raksha Bandhan Connection: The Ties That Bind
Raksha Bandhan is conventionally known as the festival commemorating the love between a sister and her brother. Each year this love is renewed and strengthened by a symbolic gesture – the sister ties a piece of thread – a rakhi – on the wrist of her brother. The thread represents the brother’s commitment to protect…
Storytellers of Wonder 