New Delhi, Aug 2 (IANS) Exhibition ‘Worlds Within Cloth: New Orders of Woven Making’ will be inaugurated on Wednesday at the Virasat Hall of the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy here, according to a Textiles Ministry statement issued on Sunday.
To be inaugurated by the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), it will remain open to the public from August 6 to 19 between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. as part of the celebrations leading up to the 12th National Handloom Day on August 7. Members of the public are invited to experience this unique presentation of contemporary textile practices and their evolving relationship with India’s living handloom traditions, the statement said.
The exhibition, curated by Sreyansi Singh, will bring together contemporary textile artists, designers and craft collectives whose practices expand the understanding of handlooms beyond their material form. Through research-driven works, artist–artisan collaborations and immersive installations, the exhibition will examine the social, historical and cultural contexts of textile-making while foregrounding experimentation, interdisciplinary approaches and new modes of engagement with craft traditions.
Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Neelam Shami Rao will be the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony, which also be attended by senior officials from the Handlooms Department.
Featuring works by Aadyam Handwoven, Abraham & Thakore, Astha Butail, Boito, Chanakya School, Coonoor & Co., Jagrity Phukan, Jayeeta Chatterjee, Kardo, Morii, Neeraj Patel, Porgai Artisans Association, Shradha Kochhar, Shrujan, Studio Medium, Ujjal Dey and 23 N 69 E, the exhibition will highlight diverse contemporary practices that engage with India’s handloom heritage through innovation, collaboration and critical inquiry. Several participating artists are supported by leading galleries and cultural institutions, reflecting the growing dialogue between contemporary art and craft, according to the statement.
The exhibition seeks to foster greater appreciation of contemporary textile practice by presenting cloth as a medium of knowledge, cultural memory and creative expression. By bringing together artists, designers, artisans and craft collectives, it encourages meaningful dialogue on the evolving role of textiles in addressing questions of identity, sustainability, community and material culture. This exhibition will be a celebration of the dynamic intersections of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary artistic practice, the statement added.
–IANS
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