'Desi Adda' bridge between craftsmen and art enthusiasts

A group of youths have gone that extra mile to promote the local artisans and handicraft items by creating a platform to attract the artifact enthusiasts.

The team comprising Adarsh, Dilip Kumar and Shashank Rai, supported by B S Prashanth, an entrepreneur, has created ‘Desi Adda’, a platform where the artifacts of local artisans are displayed and sold. The team has roped in more than 30 artisans from across the state to display their art works and find buyers.

Murugesh Jayaram Vishwakarma, an artisan from Metagalli in Mysuru, said, he has been in the crafts field since 25 years and in the recent years, the demand for wooden handicraft items is declining due to artificial products made out of plaster of paris (PoP) and other materials. After joining hands with Desi Adda, his business has witnessed 20% improvement. “I am getting good number of orders with different designs. The team members gave me different designs and ideas,” he said.

Murugesh, who makes miniature and customised momentos out of wood, has carved miniature of Mysuru Palace, K R Circle and Chamarajendra Wadiyar Circle, which are in great demand.

Interestingly, customised momentos of Mysuru Dasara 2016, which were offered to guests by the district administration, were designed and carved by one of the artisans associated with the team.

Besides Dasara momentos, the artisans also carve momentos for Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), World Tourism Day and for the corporates.

Apart from wooden models, Desi Adda, located at KC Layout, on Chamundi Hill road, in the city, also provides space for items made out of plantain fibre, clay, coffee shoots, madhubani, Tanjore and other paintings.

Artisans from Mysuru, Channapatna, Sargur, Kengeri in Bengaluru have displayed their works. “Our intention is to encourage the skills and to pro­mote the local art form. We have roped in 30-plus artisans, give them ideas, and display their prod­ucts at the price fixed by them,” said Dilip, adding, a majority of the people from outside Mysuru ask for souvenirs of Mysuru.

Artifacts like miniatures of Mysuru Palace, Clock Tower, K R Circle and C R Circle, Lalitha Mahal Palace, Crawford Hall (Administrative Block of University of Mysore), Cheluvamba Mansion (Central Food Technological Research Institute building) are in great demand. Dilip said, many artisans have got orders from neighbouring states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.