Welcome to The Art Blog
“The purpose of art is washing off the dust of daily life off our souls” – Pablo Picasso
Presenting my notes on the diverse folk arts of Asia and the stimulating cultural stories contained within them
Life in the Years / Years in the Life
“It’s not the years in the life that matter – it is the life in the years that count”
A New Museum to explore
One more window to the history of art & culture. One more state museums – and from my experience, state museums in India are absolutely fantastic!! They go into the … Continue reading
I must do more…
Strange how winning an auction of a intensely desired item can make one think! This is the little story of my 4am soul searching..
Weekend Quote: And how …
“And how will you go about finding that thing the nature of which is totally unknown to you/” – Meno
Kammavaca Art – Buddhist Manuscripts from Myanmar
Exploring the art in Ancient Buddhist manuscripts
Running Out of Sand – Random Musings
The sands of time are not unlimited …. and each walks a finite journey. Some moments we stop in the journey to catch our breath and reflect And that is … Continue reading
Art with Cloves! Available for Sale
Unbelievable creativity! Who would imagine that cloves can be used to create art!
Weekend Musings – We shall never know ..
Exploring a whole new culture and its history, its evolution and the reasons that make it what it is today … is like taking a journey with imperfect lenses not … Continue reading
Why do I collect old things?
Why do we collect antiques? Why do I collect antiques? It could be to get as close as possible to the past. It is the only way to capture the … Continue reading
Houses & Homes
“The house is the stage set for the drama we hope our lives will be….
Art – A Bridge to the Past – Reading a Janam Patri from Raja Bhom’s era
Exploring an old scroll from Rajasthan from the time of Raja Bhom
Antique Silver Bullet Case – Available for Sale
Available for Sale: 394 Antique Tibetan Khampa Nomad’s Bullet Case
Daily Art Fix – Antique Burma Manuscript
Exploring an antique Buddhist manuscript from Burma, dated 1874
The Bonona Festival of the Himalayan Aryans
October 2016 A trip to the interiors of the Himalayan ranges. A journey that would have taken 6 days by animal carriers 40 years ago but today takes 7 hours. … Continue reading
Back into the Home & Hearth of the Himalayan Aryan People
October 2016 The kitchen is a very intimate space. It is where many facets of my habits, my work style, my skills, my character, my thinking are revealed. And so, … Continue reading
Astrological Calendars – 8 – Tibetan Calendar
The Tibetan calendar begins at Losar and has either 12 or 13 months each beginning and ending with the new moon. Every two or three years a 13th month is … Continue reading
Astrological Calendars – 7 – Mongolian Charts
Mongolian Buddhism is heavily influenced by the Tibetan form that combines Vajrayana Buddhism with Tantric concepts. But Mongolian Buddhism had a unique identity too. Introduced during the period of the … Continue reading
Astrological Calendars – 6 – Batak Calendar
The Batak Calendar system has 12 months and follows the phases of the moon and the sighting of the constellations. Some basic facts the month is divided into 3 groups … Continue reading
Astrological Calendars – 5 – Thai Calendar
In Thailand, as in most of Asia, the lunar calendar contains twelve or thirteen months in a year, with 15 waxing moon and 14 or 15 waning moon days in … Continue reading
Astrological Calendars – 4 – Myanmar Mandala Spirit Cloths
Mandala Spirit Cloths from Myanmar were commissioned by families of means and created by learned men and monks. They are believed to have healing / protective powers and the power … Continue reading
Astrological Calendars – 3 – Astrological Birth Charts
Part 3 in the series of notes on Astrological Calendars A janampatri or kundali is a Birth Chart prepared as per Vedic Astrology. It is a particular system of prediction … Continue reading
Astrological Calendars – 2 – Palelitangan Calendars of Bali
Part 2 on the series of notes on Astrological Calendars The Balinese calendar integrates the Indian-derived lunar (saka) calendar with an indigenous system of weekly cycles (wuku) which constitute a … Continue reading
Astrological Calendars – 1 – Palindon Calendars of Bali
Palindon are calendars depicting the 12 months and the deity associated with that month. The painted scenes for each month illustrate the written predictions. The style is characteristic of the … Continue reading
Foretelling the Future in the Past – Astrological Calendars
In the past, the future seems to have been a very important idea and the ability to foretell it conferred immense powers on those who could make accurate predictions. Beginning … Continue reading
Antique Batik Toraja Ceremonial Textile Artwork – Available for Sale
Available for Sale: Antique Toraja Batik Ceremonial Textile
Daily Art Fix
Majestic head lama performing Losar ceremonies at a monastery in Sikkim – where Life and Art are inextricably braided into one!!
The Astitva Project – A Report on the Micro Project in Ladakh
The Story They say that ‘when the weight of the paperwork equals the weight of the plane, the plane will fly’ – stressing the importance of the planning that must … Continue reading
Antique Balinese Lontar Beaded Basket – Available for Sale
Available for sale: ANtique Balinese Ceremonial Lontar Beaded Basket
ANNOUNCEMENT: Auction of Antique Phulkaris
Auction of rare exquisite Antique Phulkari Bagh Shawls collected from India in the 1960s-1970s and now in the wovensouls collection. Follow the link to view these pieces: http://stores.ebay.com/WOVENSOULS Ends on … Continue reading
Vintage Rajasthan Tribal Textile – Available for Sale
Available for Sale – Antique Shekhawati Tribal Shawl Odhana – embroidery on coarse handwoven cotton
Vintage Laotian Textile Art – Available for Sale
Available for Sale: Vintage Laotian Textile
Antique Cheriyal Painted Scroll – Art for Oral Traditions
In South Indian Paintings – A catalogue of the British Museum collection, A. L. Dallaiccola notes “Although in the past the majority of Indian people might have been illiterate, they … Continue reading
A Yao Ceremonial Mask
On a trip in 2009, I got this Yao mask from back of the bottom drawer of a store owned by an elderly couple. The beautiful woman and I shared … Continue reading
Antique Sindh Embroidered Wedding Shawl – Available for Sale
Available for Sale – Antique Sindh Embroidered Wedding Shawl
Vintage Cradle Cloth for one very lucky baby! Available for Sale
May the baby build a ladder to the stars! AVAILABLE FOR SALE * * *
External Article: In the Shade of the Royal Umbrella
An external link to start the week with! Link May 2017
Wearing the Neck Rings – Cultural Tradition of the Karen Tribe
The process of putting the rings on the neck of girls from he Long Neck Karen Tribe
Spotlight on Exceptional Phulkari Bagh Textiles
Inspired by the ongoing exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we have focused our spotlight on the exceptional Phulkari Baghs in the wovensouls collection. Enjoy the Visual Feast
Aesthetics and Intrigue – The appeal of Dayak Art
Dayak Art has a unique character that is easily recognisable visually. The swirls and curls that are used to create any picture are employed in the artworks of many Dayak … Continue reading
Variety of Textiles within Antique Yao / Zhuang Ceremonial Scrolls – 2
Continuing to study the diversity in the two Yao paintings, with a focus on costumes in this note. In each do take note of the composition of the costume – … Continue reading
Variety within Antique Yao / Zhuang Ceremonial Scrolls – 1
On studying the pair of paintings that are as tall as I am, I am struck by the variety in 2 aspects: 1) facial features and 2) costumes The diversity … Continue reading
External Article: Chamba Rumal Embroidered Textiles
A primer on Chamba Rumal: Link Apr 2017
Himalayan Art, Style and Fashion
A look at the ornate headdress of the Himalayan Aryan People
Textiles and more in the Kerta Gosa Museum – Bali
On my visit to the small museum in Kerta Gosa, Bali (2015) I did not expect to find any textiles. paintings yes – because that area is famous for paintings. … Continue reading
Old Buddhist Painted Parables on Furniture
Parables – simple stories used to illustrate a spiritual lesson – are found in every religion. But this way of painting these stories on furniture is unique. Was it a … Continue reading
A look at Miao Embroidery
“Miao embroidery is a unique and incredible skill—weaving actual metal thread into intricate patterns to create beautiful garments. A tradition over 500 years old, Miao tin embroidery is sadly a … Continue reading
A Culture Celebrates Identity! Happy New Year!
I have grown up in Mumbai …. in a neighborhood that was made of up mainly Maharashtrian and Gujarati residents (us). I learnt both language even before I knew what … Continue reading
Shigmo Utsav Festival 2017 Goa
Connected to our roots through the amazing Shigmo folk festival parade in Panaji. Proud of all the regular people participating so wholeheartedly in this parade Proud of the absence of … Continue reading
Textiles in Christian Art at The Met Museum
One’s bias comes alive when, in the face of several beautiful works, one pays greater attention to that single categories that our hearts favor. And so, even at the Met, … Continue reading
