Welcome to The Art Blog
“The purpose of art is washing off the dust of daily life off our souls” – Pablo Picasso
Presenting 1000+ notes on the folk arts of Asia alongside the cultural stories contained within.
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~ Jaina Mishra
Sounds of Silence
A leisurely rowing through the silence of Kashmir .
Learning from Museums
Much of what we select in life, depends on what we have experienced until that point in time. The more we’ve seen the more discerning we are likely to be. … Continue reading
Jain Manuscripts & Textiles – National Museum Delhi
See more in my note written in 2014 And if you’d like to acquire an almost complete set of 88 folios – visit WOVENSOULS.COM Asset 9003 *** jm December 2022
Have an Antique Textile to Sell?
Have a travel souvenir you’d like to sell? Have an inherited textile you’d like to pass on to a loving home? List it for sale through WOVENSOULS. This is intended … Continue reading
Dhunuchi Dance – Bengal
This dance is performed in honor of Durga in Bengal. This solo dance is performed before the deity and the movement of hands and feet follows the beat of the … Continue reading
Santhal Folk Dance, Bengal
Seen in Murshidabad during Durga Puja 2022 As usual, tribal culture is inclusive – every individual is invited to participate – irrespective of any segregating parameter of age, marital status … Continue reading
Heritage Architecture of Murshidabad
Palaces of rulers, wealthy merchants and officials … More photos of the remnants of the magnificent history of Bengal. The seat of the British Raj for awhile, the region attracted … Continue reading
Terracotta Temples of Murshidabad
The beauty of the architecture, its unique style, the detail of the terracotta plaques on the walls that tell stories from the Hindu epics, the colors.. all fascinate me. The … Continue reading
Wovensouls Talk Announcement: Interview with former US Ambassador to the UN
Former US Ambassador to the UN and to India speaks to Jaina Mishra / WOVENSOULS online on ZOOM, Wednesday October 26th. The interview will include a virtual tour of the … Continue reading
Visiting the Past – The Heritage House of a Wealthy Merchant
It is a long 6 hour drive from Kolkata. Knowing that India had advanced so much with its fantastic road network, I knew that it would not be a tedious … Continue reading
Murshidabad Diaries
An adrenaline addict constantly needs to find new ways to create the Adrenalin rush. Fortunately this is internally generated. But …. the generation is most often dependent on external stimuli. … Continue reading
The Use of A Chandarvo Textile
I’ve collected Gujarat Textiles for decades. And have come across many ‘canopy’ textiles for sale – that are used as a cover over the goddess deity during ceremonies. Further my … Continue reading
Navratri Garba Dances
A little culture from my own life! Navratri is a festival of 9 nights in honor of Durga or Amba that is celebrated with dances in Gujarat. Gujjus love this … Continue reading
Rare Chelaberd Eagle Kazak Rug
Ten years ago, when I began reading about rugs and textile art, I’d read that they were ‘must haves’ as they are rare. Over the years I saw many being … Continue reading
Museum Walk – What is this Garment?
On a recent walk in a very small museum, I came across this: I don’t know how to view stone art. But this one appealed to me aesthetically. More importantly, … Continue reading
The Meeta Project – The Story
In 2021, inspired by Michael Asher & Wilfred Thesiger’s writings, I made a plan to spend time with camel herders, for a few days. This could only be realised through … Continue reading
Festival Time – Mumbai Style
This week it’s Janmashtami that the city celebrates – the birth of Lord Krishna. Baby Krishna loved home-made butter and he’d help himself to all the butter pots in the … Continue reading
Tanjore Diaries
They say, one makes it to the big temples of India, only when they call out to you. Maybe they do. But maybe my senses are not tuned to hearing … Continue reading
The Thanjavur Maratha Palace
Every now and then, I come across interesting people I yearn to meet. No – not Brad Pitt or George Clooney. But people like Dostoevsky. Lee Kuan Yew. Chanakya. The … Continue reading
The Saraswati Mahal Library at Tanjore
As a collector, I take pride in the things I collect. Through my sources – ebay & shops all over the world, I am proud to note that I have … Continue reading
Tanjore Style Painting – Where It all Began
And this is where it all began: This unbelievable Tanjore painting depicting 63 Nayanars, came to be mine in 2020 through an auction in London. Estimated to be from the … Continue reading
