Show them more love

Incredible artists and sculptors, weavers and printers at Crafts Bazaar 2015

July 10, 2015 09:01 pm | Updated 09:01 pm IST

Art can survive only if it is shown respect and patronage Says Pattachitra artist Debasis Sethi

Art can survive only if it is shown respect and patronage Says Pattachitra artist Debasis Sethi

A bunch of school children surround a Crafts Council of Tamil Nadu member as she urges them to take in the art unlimited that is on spectacular display at the Crafts Bazaar 2015. From weavers and sculptors to artists and jewellery makers they are all here in person. This is an opportunity in a lifetime to get up close and personal with creators of such exquisite handicrafts.

Soubhik Daw is from Bengal. He has a workshop near Santiniketan where he makes Dokra crafts. Not just makes them, he is adapting the old techniques to contemporary uses so that the art stays alive. Diagonally opposite him is Debasis Sethi from Bhubaneswar. He is a Pattachitra artist carrying forward a tradition centuries old. Debasis fears that this beautiful art form will die out. “Odisha has so many National Award Winners. Yet, art and craft is languishing. I come to crafts fair, not just to sell my work, but to spread the word and awareness about how much of effort and passion goes into a Pattachitra.” Debasis has learnt the art from his guru Gokulbihar Patnaik. He explains how the colours he has used in a particular painting come from the sindoor, ground conch and lamp black. He says, “If I am given even an hour’s time I would love to give a lecture demonstration to school children about my art. At least they will know what it is and, maybe, talk to others about it.” Suprajit Mahapatra is the other Pattachitra artist at the fair who echoes the same sentiments.

There are unsung heroes wherever you turn at the Crafts Bazaar. Ram Soni is a Sanjhi artist whose delicate filigree-like artworks are just exquisite. Sanjhi art originates in Mathura.

Next to him is the leather-puppet maker all the way from Andhra, who has made a wall hanging that makes you want to catch your breath. “It must be backbreaking work to create something so beautiful, but we will never know, unless we talk to them and ask them and encourage them,” says Crafts Council Member, Sujani Balu. Putul from Bengal makes jewellery out of paddy... These artists are all about working with their hands, working in tandem with Nature and respecting the environment. They recycle and up cycle and keep alive ancient art forms despite all odds. “It must stem out of some kind of madness,” laughs Soubhik.

Art needs nurturing to live on.

It is a labour of love, but one that may fade away if we do not acknowledge it. Spend some time this weekend with some of India’s amazing potters, weavers, sculptors, artists and printers at the Bazaar. You will be amazed at how proud they make you feel about our country.

Crafts Bazaar 2015 is on till July 13 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. at Ramakrishna Kalyana Mandapam.

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