The ‘Manya Hastakala’ craft exhibition has stocked up rare craft items, perfect gift giveaways for the festive season ahead. From unique , innovative to traditional and contemporary items many of the pieces on display reveal the creativity of the country’s artisans, more than 100 of whom are at the ‘Hastakala’ venue, Kalakshetra Grounds, to explain their take on creating crafts of contemporary relevance rooted in ancient traditions. The exhibition has an array of antique Rabari and Ahir embroidered pieces fashioned into trendy jackets and jewel like borders, Ganesha icons and delicate glass pendants encasing roses and mini chrysanthemums. Check out for innovative designs in the textiles section which has a huge variety. Also find this board game that has a mythological connection - the‘Pagde’ board, made with a unique Etikopakka, at the fare.
The Etikopakka craft items have more takers now and artisan Ilyazuddin who has specialised in it has designed traditional games such as ‘pallanguzhi’, ‘pagde’ and ‘chaupat’ for this season. “I learnt this art by observing my parents at work. My ideas come both from the Design Centre and my own sensibilities,” he says.
Atubhai Bulkari, an Ahir tribal, weaves the fabled ‘Meghwal’ shawls. These shawls dyed in vegetable colours are intricately woven with fine lace-like borders. His vegetable-dyed turban sets the tone for his stall displaying heritage Ahir and Rabari embroidered handbags, jackets and ‘poppats,’ each embroidered by the tribal women, who, as he says proudly, “do not work for commercial purposes but for use during festivals.”
Rafique from New Delhi crafts tiny metal garden lanterns, candle holders and clay vases and paints them in vibrant hues.
Puppet leather craft from Andhra Pradesh forms a riveting part of the Hastakala collection. Also on view are Shilp guru Chellapathi Rao’s collections such as the 5 ft by 3 ft hangings depicting ‘Gitopadesam’ and ‘Ashokavanam’ scene, the hallmark of Andhra’s leather puppetry craft. Copper work from Jaipur transformed into ‘Tree of Life’ wall hangings, abstract sculpture as well as animal forms make for an alluring collection.
Mohammad Tahir’s wooden blocks, Santosh’s colourful ‘Kauna’ grass basketry, Chandni Pillai’s stone architecture and old ‘patrams’ in forgotten shapes are some of the rare craft items that are on display.
And finally for festive wear, Chandrakant’s beautifully woven ikkats are available in every possible colour. Vying for elegance with the ikkat are checked vegetable-dyed ikkats from Nalgonda district and hand-painted Madhubani saris from Bihar.
‘Manya Hastakala’ presented by ‘Manya,’ a Bangalore based non-profit organisation, is on till October 11, at Kalakshetra Foundation, Tiruvanmiyur.
