‘Silk India 2015 brings to Chennai a dazzle of saris and fabric woven out of silk in its many avatars: muga, eri, tussar, matka and silk melded with cotton, jute and fibre. The textile spread, presented by weavers, textile designers and entrepreneurs, includes Benarasi, Uppada, Jamdani, Kancheevaram, Maheshwari, Chanderi, Khadi and more. Innovative weaves, motifs and formats meet embroidery, traditional painting and block prints. In fact, the traditional weaver and embroiderer’s close synergy with nature is reflected in the exquisite flowers on Jamdaani, Kashmiri silk and block printed Maheswaris, Chanderis and Matka silks. The many intricate weaves speak of a vibrant living and evolving textile culture.
There are fine chikankari motifs done in the 33 ‘tankhas’ on both sari and fabric. Tiny amris, rose, nargis and bel spread their exquisite beauty over silk and georgette saris and dupattas. Sherbati colours and white form chikankari’s canvas, though dramatic black and jewel hued saris and salwar kurta yardage are favourites.
Many of the pieces have been created by National Awardee Akbar Ali.
Rare, superbly woven Phulia Jamdaanis captivate with their multi-hued geometric borders and pallus, while enormous fantasy flowers are spread over the body of the saris. A unique white on white sari with Jamdaani floral motifs, and silk saris with Jamdaani work are other outstanding creations.
Uppada saris with striking borders and checks form part of weaver Ramesh Parasuram’s oeuvre. The elegant charon of Hubli cotton saris in jewel tones with woven thread borders is another attraction as are kantha saris from Kolkata. While Madhubani stories unfold on silk saris, a plethora of Bhagalpur silks and tissues display their unique textured beauty in a variety of colours. There are also painted iron craft from Jaipur, Andhra’s wood craft, Khurja pottery, silk quilts and hand bags.
‘Silk India 2015’ is on view at Valluvarkottam Hall, till February 2.
Small time artisansNGOs such as Pushpanjali Gramodyog Sansthan provide marketing opportunities to craftsmen, who live in remote regions.
Meet them at ‘Crafts Bazaar,’ organised by Sansthan. Harikesh is from Sawai Madhopur. His smoked black pottery has an ethnic designer look. He makes tiny but compelling icons of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Ganesha, which are hand-moulded and smoked to a matte black furnish. His oeuvre includes decorative hookahs, plates, wall hangings, mugs and more.
Arumugam brings handmade items such as birds and garden lamps from Puducherry. Munir’s blue pottery from Khurja carries impressions of Persian Mughal art. Painter Janak Singh does Mughal and Rajput art on chairs, sideboards, tables, wood, stone and iron artefacts. Also on display are lac bangles, pearls, beads, sari and sequins. The small weaver brings to the Bazaar Sambalpuri and Bomkai ikats, block printed cotton and silk saris, Khadi kurtas, apart from cottons from West Bengal and Andhra. For gifts, there are Banjara bags, torans, wood-cut icons and wall panels from Andhra crafted by Murugan.
‘Crafts Bazaar’ is on view at Kalakshestra Foundation, Tiruvanmiyur,tillFebruary 2.
