Handmade : The Spirit of India
Handmade : The Spirit of India
The marvels of the greatest indian artworks of all times India is the land of craft—think of it as analog creativity for the digital age.Its history goes back to 5,000 BC, when handmade crafts used to revolve around religion. Over the ages, the techniques have always drawn from tradition without being beholden to it. But not, the scope of Indian craft has become so broad that the audience does not just include collecutors, both new and seasoned, but also academics, curators, students and anyone with a passing interest in learning about it.
Beauty in diversity
Beauty in diversity From Kerala to Kashmir, Kutch to Kohima—many of these crafts aren’t popular public knowledge. For instance, it’s said that back in the 17th century, the Lambani nomadic tribes, also called Banjaras, came from Afghanistan to India and are now spread across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. Today, the Lambadis community lives and works in Sandur, one of the villages in Karnataka and continues to create rhythms with needle and thread. Their colourful embroidery is popular among people in modern cities and can be found at a variety of exhibitions and craft bazaars.
Like the Lambanis, many stories of Indian craft are woven into the country’s rich heritage. The intricate silver work from Odisha also known as Chandi Tarkashi, is another great example that can be dated back to the 16th century. The designs employed by the artisans in silver filigree ornaments, decorative pieces and utilitarian products show the influence of elaborate motifs ofthat era. Their story of creativity, skilled handwork, and precision work is lesser known to the world.
The power of craft
What’s interesting is how the stories of Indian craftspeople continue to inspire us. In Louis XIV’s France, for example, Indian craftsmanship that included calicos and chintz were so widely coveted that the government was forced to ban their import and sale. Yet French aesthetes continued to wear them indoors, privately flouting the law. Fashion history is replete with similar anecdotes of Europeans’ fascination with Indian craftsmanship across fabrics land design. Needless to say, Indian craft has been the mainstay of several pivotal design developments, be it in silhouette or embellishment.
