A stitch in time

Australia is not the name that comes to mind while discussing handloom and handcrafted designs, but an ongoing exhibition in the city is changing that. Lead by Liz Williamson, an internationally renowned textiles artist, the exhibition is a collaborative effort between a group of Australian designers and Indian artisans from Gujarat and West Bengal.

As part of the Cultural Studies Course at University of New South Wales, a young group of Australian designers has been engaging with Indian artisans to create innovative textile works, which aim to find common ground between the aesthetics of the two countries. The designers have been working with eight artisan groups such as Bandhani artists, block printers and embroiderers to design naturally dyed scarves, tableware and rugs.

“India has a very conducive atmosphere for the growth of the handloom sector. I believe, it has the best textile collection—one that hasn’t been replicated anywhere else in the world,” says Liz who is exhibiting embroidered designs and woven scarves made by artisan groups in West Bengal.

The Australian designers have engaged with the artisan communities in India, studying and researching the rich traditions of the area. And, together with the local craftspeople, they have created works that lie at the intersection of both cultures. “We are very proud that someone like Liz, who commands a lot of respect in Australia has chosen to showcase the work of her students and artisans at our gallery. The Australian-Consulate General has also been very supportive, and we are hoping that this leads to a greater number of social dialogues. Liz approaches the artisans in a very sensitive manner, and treats them as a co-creator instead of labour,” says Radhi Parekh, founder and director of the Artisan’s Gallery.

Working closely with the industry, Liz points out the hurdles faced by them. “Most of the artisans understand that they have to get accustomed to changes and this could even be in terms of colour or pattern combinations. However, what I absolutely hated was the exorbitant cost of raw materials. The shift from government cooperatives to individual societies has now increased competition,” she adds.

Shedding light on the growing need of research and development in the sector Radhi explains, “Historically we went through a period of mass production, which really hurt this sector. In this age of mechanisation, individual craftsmen have been neglected. Their skill needs to be passed on to the future generations and they must be made capable of running businesses by training in management. The government has failed to understand what constitutes handicraft, and how they can contribute to the GDP. Design schools also have a role to play in expanding crafts-based education.”

December 11 to 19, 11am to 7 pm, At ARTISANS’ Centre, Rhythm House Lane, Kala Ghoda