Crafts and handlooms come together at two exhibitions in the city. While ‘Weavers’ Handloom and Handicrafts largely presents crafts and weaves from the Eastern and North Eastern states, ‘Indian Handlooms and Handicrafts’ brings crafts and fabrics from various regions of the country. Together, the exhibitions offer a variety of gift options for the festive season ahead. Craft products, many of them sensitive to the environment, and vegetable dyes bring a special ambience to the craft fans with artisans on hand to explain the craft process.
Partha Pratim Das probably walks metaphorically on eggshells while he does micro-mini etching, painting and embroidery on egg shells. He has carved the most incredible images of baskets, the Eiffel Tower, a serene Buddha, and more, on egg shells encased in glass. How does he do it? “With a nail-cutting knife, used for nail art” says Das. “I first remove the albumin and placenta by inserting a heated straw through a small hole at the bottom of the egg. Once that is done I begin to do the etching and cutting on the unbroken shell. He added by saying that his exquisite Kutchchi embroidery on the eggshells is done, with just needle and thread.
Then there is Monu Sharma’s iron craft from Jaipur. The artisan gives objects-de-art such as cows and deer a translucent white lacquer paint coating, over which ‘minakari’ work is done with glass and stones.
Keni weaving from Manipur by Purnima Pathak is a ‘green’ craft, which lends itself to mat weaving and to make picnic baskets and table mats. “The weaves are done on kauna grass, which we grow in our fields after wheat is harvested,” says Purnima. She also has an array of Sitalpatti handbags and mats on display made by her family.
Odisha’s Patachitra art on canvas, bottles and coconut shells and Bamboo furniture from Assam, lovely garden pottery from West Bengal are other items, which bring a special craft resonance to the exhibition. Dhakai Jamdaani saris, Uppadas, Benarasis, block prints and Hubli’s three-toned silk saris with Kasuti embroidery add a festive charm to the exhibition.
‘Indian Handlooms and Handicrafts’ is also about distinctive craft and weave statements. Among these are unusual block prints and wonderfully woven Sambhalpuri silk ikats and elephant ikat saris and many cotton Sambhalpuris. The dyes are derived from onion skin, lac and kaththa.
Papier-mâché artisan Balan has created icons of deities, vignettes of rural weddings and decorative dolls. He comes from the village of Villayanam near Puducherry where every family practices the craft. Balan learnt the art by watching the elders work. It is basically made with soaked and kneaded waste paper which is then put into a mould for shaping, dried and painted.
His Andal with Lord Ranganatha on her lap is an aesthetic, nuanced composition painted in glowing colours and alive with beautifully expressive faces…..
The ‘ Weaves and Handicrafts Exhibition ’ is on at Valluvar Kottam , Nungambakkam High Road, till August 24. And ‘ Indian Handlooms and Handicrafts ’ is on at Sri Sankara Hall , TTK Road, till August 30.
