Gurvendra Kaur Gundev showing clothes. floriculture
| Photo credit: Special Arrangements
Crafts from across India met for the CCT Sanman 2023 at the Crafts Council of Telangana (CCT) premises in Hyderabad on Thursday. The Council presented awards to a handful of deserving artisans at the state and national levels.
A common factor that binds award-winning artisans is their pride in returning to heritage techniques, which they believe some of their contemporaries have undermined in an attempt to capture the market by making products at a faster pace. was given Addressing. Hindusome of the awardees explained why they believe in time-tested techniques and slow fashion.
Venkatagiri K Putnam Subramaniam Photo credit: Special Arrangements
Patnam Subramaniam Venkat is a third generation handloom weaver from Giri. Her grandmother taught her family members to weave and she and brother Venkat Giri continue the Jamdani tradition. Subramaniam recalls how his parents and grandparents created composite Jamdani motifs and named them after films of the era. “They wove many saris, and the designs became very popular. Many weavers no longer make intricate patterns (inspired by nature and mythology). They prefer simple designs because more saris can be woven.”
Exhibition of paintings by C Natarajan and Thalaikarasi Tanjore Photo credit: Special Arrangements
Chennai-based C. Natarajan, a Tanjore painting artist for over three decades, displays his exquisite drawings, some of which become ‘corner designs’ that frame the central deities in his paintings. “Masters of Tanjore paintings, including my ancestors, worked on such drawings. Sculptures and murals in temples inspire my designs and each painting is unique.” Natarajan for Mumbai Airport’s T2 Domestic Terminal Anamika The mural has been designed by V and N Ramachandran. Some of its walls also adorn the craft wall in the CCT premises.
A quest to find floriculture A knack for embroidery like embroidery passed down from his great-grandmother led Delhi-based Gurinder Kaur Gundev to work with artisans in Nabha near Patiala. “In the old technique, artisans counted each thread of the warp and weft and stitched the pattern, with no design catalog to refer to. The embroidery was done on good quality cotton and not on polyester-blend fabrics. Threads The counting method of embroidery is still going on. Criterion Artisans in Karnataka and Suf Embroiderers in Gujarat, so why not? floriculture? A PhD scholar, his floriculture The work was exhibited at the National Museum, New Delhi to commemorate 75 years of India’s independence. In addition to wearables floricultureShe also designs wall pieces for interiors.
Other Awards
Jaya Jaitley, founder of Karsatya Haat Samiti: Lifetime Achievement Award.
Thangajothi Si: Using natural fibers from screw pine, pineapple, palm leaves and samba grass to make baskets and other items.
Gajam Madhvi: Weaving by Ikat Handloom.
Kalapuri Foundation’s Atashchavans: Kolhapuri works with artisans designing shoes, jewellery, baskets and bags.
Subhash Poyam: Bed metal crafts.
Nagarjuna Madhavi: Dokra artisan from Adilabad.
Tahir Siddiqui specializes in contemporary. Bedri
| Photo credit: Special Arrangements
This was the challenge for Hyderabad’s Tahir Siddiqui. Bedri Practical craftsmanship in the contemporary landscape. His grandfather Ghulam Ghaffar Siddiqui used to make beadware for the Nizam. Tahir and his team design Bedri Products for interiors — door handles, door knobs, coffee tables, panels and room dividers. “There needs to be more than just flower vases and jewelry boxes. My father started the idea of creating. Bedri Products for corporate gifting and I extended it to interior designing.
Odelu Vurugonda demonstrates indigo dyeing Photo credit: Special Arrangements
Odelu Vurugonda from Adilabad started working as a weaver at the age of 16 and is now looking for natural dyeing of clothes. Demonstrating the steps of indigo dyeing with a vet at the CCT premises, he explains how he learned dyeing under the guidance of Andhra artisans Azrma and Annapurna. Now based in Chinnoor, he says, “I don’t know how to remove color through chemical means; I understand natural colors and they are safe on the skin.
Prakash Narayan from Bhajodi Photo credit: Special Arrangements
Prakash Narayan Saju from Bhajodi, Gujarat proudly displays the carpets woven by his family and a team of weavers made from traditional motifs of Kuch communities. A third-generation weaver, she honed her skills at Kala Raksha Vidyalaya. Prakash Saju’s great grandfather wove carpets. Prakash and family incorporated design and marketing suggestions from organizations such as Khmer. Naturally dyed woolen and cotton carpets are their specialty, and they lead small weavers in Bhajodi.
Designs are often inspired by desert fauna and flora. Displaying a carpet with cactus-like motifs carved out of the white sand of Kutch, he says, “Such motifs take time to weave. During the Run-of-Kutch festival, tourists buy a lot of Kutch products. There is high demand and many weavers leave printed or synthetic materials to earn them. Those who follow traditional weaving and dyeing techniques create heirloom pieces.
Artisans will exhibit their creations on February 24 and 25 at CCT Space, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.
