Kashmiri Papier Mâché : A Cultural Currency
Kashmir has long been an archetypal cornucopia. Stories surround the land, whispering of those that came with nowhere else to go, those that never left, those that came to conquer and lay waste, and those that came to love and be in awe. No matter who they were, why they came and how long they stayed, they were all impacted by the abundance and fruition of the land. Creativity enacts itself through each pair of hands differently, and the same material in the hands of another may metamorphose into something the world has never seen before. Continue reading Kashmiri Papier Mâché : A Cultural Currency
Sandalwood and the Jangids: Carving a Place in History
“As if to prove that love would conquer hate, the sandalwood perfumes the very axe that lays it low.” Beneath the turbulence of the hegemonic battle for sandalwood, there is a river of devotion to crafting it. By chance or fate, a family in the heart of the desert city Churu was led to sandalwood. Whether they remained steadfast to serve need, purpose, patron or god, they are known today world over for their exquisite craftsmanship. Continue reading Sandalwood and the Jangids: Carving a Place in History
Kerala Murals: Mastering Devotion
Looking at a Kerala mural can feel like kindling a gentle hearth… or like cracking the heart of a volcano. At once invigorating and calming, stupendous and stirring. It has been rendered through prayer, meditative focus, creative vitality and a desire to serve, with no expectation of acknowledgement . Is it as simple as calling it ‘art’? Or is it something beyond that? Continue reading Kerala Murals: Mastering Devotion
Gond Art: Unpacking Greatness
A word that is emerging more and more in collective awareness, an art form that has a niche global audience, a complex amalgamation of people, cultures and political boundaries. To understand ‘Gond’ is far from simple, though the word, the art and the people themselves are clean edged and lacking pretention. Continue reading Gond Art: Unpacking Greatness
Tales of the East: Insight into Naga Jewellery Traditions
Jewellery is not just used an accessory for adornment but also has many beliefs associated with it that carry a strong sense of identity for the tribal culture and heritage of the state of Nagaland. A mountainous state with a pleasant climate almost all year round, 20% of the total area of Nagaland is covered … Continue reading Tales of the East: Insight into Naga Jewellery Traditions
Wonders of Warli – The Tribal Legacy of Mud and Rice Art
The unique narrative style of Warli encapsulates joys and sorrows, beliefs and legends, and the rhythmic cycles of the natural world. It is a language beyond words, making it an accessible tool for story telling that can reach across communities and continents. Continue reading Wonders of Warli – The Tribal Legacy of Mud and Rice Art
Play of Light & Shadow : Shadow Leather Puppetry from India
In the dark of night, the interplay between light and shadow illuminates a translucent screen, and rhythmic and expressive drum beats are accompanied by poetry; whilst the bright Kings and demons battle in the flickering light. The tradition of shadow puppetry still prevails in Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Orissa. Andhra Pradesh, where … Continue reading Play of Light & Shadow : Shadow Leather Puppetry from India
Channapatna: A Toy Story
Aloft on the Bengaluru- Mysore highway, a green hoarding greets travellers to the ‘Toy Town’- Channapatna. One can see tiny shops on the sidelines across the highway with oodles of wooden collectables, beckoning us with their bright colours. An overflowing dazzling display of lacquered toys of all forms and figures adorns the shelves of these … Continue reading Channapatna: A Toy Story
Crafted Territories – Trailing the GI marked crafts of India
A handmade object is often a story of the bygone times and craft traditions. “To write about Indian Handicrafts is almost like writing about the country itself. So vast, complex and colorful, and yet with a simplicity and charm, difficult to attain under comparable conditions – are these handicrafts.” ~ M.N. Upadhyay,1976 The Indian handicrafts … Continue reading Crafted Territories – Trailing the GI marked crafts of India
Jaya He GVK New Museum Store 