Due to the growing popularity of western art, traditional Indian craft and mastery is often ignored these days. To counter this, Paramparik Karigar, an association of craftsmen, is organising an exhibition in the city that features some of the country’s most talented traditional artists. Their 11th edition that will commence on April 14, will features 30 new artists from 14 states showcasing 30 different art forms, including Thewa and Kota saris from Rajasthan, Chamba Rumal embroidery from Himachal Pradesh, Bagh prints from Madhya Pradesh and horn and shell sculpture from West Bengal.
Anu Sorabjee Choudary, committee member of Paramparik Karigar says, “We started out to revive Indian art. When we hold an exhibition and bring artists from far off towns to Mumbai, the entire experience gives them a lot of exposure. Their art gets noticed. They then land up with contacts and get long-term orders. This helps nurture their art.”
Some of the popular crafts featured in this edition include gemstone carving by Masroor Ahmed of Jaipur, mat weaving by Subhendu Bikash Das of Midnapur, West Bengal, Molela terracotta idols by Mandvi Pandi Ram of Molela, Rajasthan, Muriya wooden sculptors by Pandi Ram Mandvi of Bastar, Kauna mat weaving by Eastend Handicraft Unit of Manipur, Chamba Rumal by Latika Vakil of Chamba and Sanjjhi paper stenciling by Vijay Kumar Verma of Mathura, among others.
With so much of talent to boast of, why haven’t they gone international? Choudary says, “A few years ago, we had sent a few articles to New York. But in order to move lock, stock and barrel for an exhibition, we need to have the right funding. If we did, we’d organise an international exhibition in a jiffy. But we do hope that exhibitions like these will help us.”
{{/usCountry}}With so much of talent to boast of, why haven’t they gone international? Choudary says, “A few years ago, we had sent a few articles to New York. But in order to move lock, stock and barrel for an exhibition, we need to have the right funding. If we did, we’d organise an international exhibition in a jiffy. But we do hope that exhibitions like these will help us.”
{{/usCountry}}Paramparik Karigar will be on at the Coomaraswamy Hall, at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, from April 14-17, from 10.30 am to 6.30 pm.