Mother of Pearl Inlay – Art in Wood
Exploring the art of carving out pictures in wood and then filling them with the beautiful contrasting mother-of-pearl bits cut to size. Precision is absolutely essential in the craft! The art allows us glimpses into the cultural ethos of the time it was made. Natural beautyf, music and the arts seem to be of great importance!
Book Recommendation – Yao Culture & Art
“How to make the Universe Right” The book goes into the spiritual practices of the Yao people. The deep reliance on the supporting art used makes the book very … Continue reading
Wood Art from Ancient China
An attempted burglary resulted in a forced movement of our furniture. These pieces had been tucked away in a place that I visited with high frequency but low attention-depth. Every … Continue reading
Talk: “Wedding Embroideries of Kutch”
A presentation of the Talk held at the Textile Museum Washington D.C. in June 2016.
One more Hybrid – A Paithani weave from Benaras
A lot of people frown upon hybrids ….. I have no view on the subject. If evolutionary forces caused this to occur then so be it …. I am no … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Pathan Embroidery
A Pathan tablecloth with motifs that are seen even in the forehead-tattoos of Pathani women. More images here. ❤️ jm Sept 2016
Palace on the Ganga – Art in Architecture
Just pictures of a lovely place that has the atmosphere of serenity and quietude. The opulence is in the atmosphere created – rather than in its fixtures. … Continue reading
A Hybrid is Born
In the olden days textile-art hybrids came about when a woman married into another group and brought with her art-memes from her parental culture. Today the world has shrunk and … Continue reading
The Art of Garlanding Flowers
Garlands are used at a range of events in India – to honor politicians, to mark birthdays, in the wedding ceremony and in funeral ceremonies. Flowers that are beautiful on … Continue reading
Handlooms of India
The title of this note is misleading as it is too broad – it is like saying ‘the universe’… I am sure that even if I were to toil 10 … Continue reading
Diversity in Folk Art – Bone Carvings
Exploring one more medium of folk art – Bones!
The Tragedy of Uprooted Art
There are all forms of art in the world. Some portable and transferable and others that were meant to remain where they were created. At a recent visit to a … Continue reading
The Mashru Loom
My knowledge of weaving techniques is minimal – so I might be wrong in thinking that the Masru or Mashru loom is a complicated one. But the few looms that … Continue reading
Memories of a Sublime Experience – Balinese Art
Memories of a sublime art experience in Bali
Learning History through Art – Conquest of Kanchi & a Glass of Milk
In this painting from Odisha, Jagannath & Balabhadra are on a journey and are offered a drink of milk by milkmaid Manika. The History and Her Story: One of the … Continue reading
Woven Leaves of Bali
In the touristy journeys from one part of Bali to another, the one art that jumps at the traveler, whether or not one is looking, is the art of basketry. … Continue reading
Warding Off Evil – Enigmatic Dayak Baby Carrier
One more stunning work of art created for the purpose of warding off evil and deflecting the evil eye! A Dayak Baby carrier with sveeral spirit motifs, a variety of … Continue reading
Art in service of Culture – A Sindoor Box
As I say in my lectures – traditional art in Asia is rarely ever “art for art’s sake” and almost always has a second layer hidden beneath. It is either … Continue reading
Exotic Art from an Exotic Era
We all read the newspapers even today. But in the past 4-5 years, newspapers have been replaced by the internet as my main source of news. By the time I … Continue reading
Salute the Batak Textile Weaver’s Genius!
Sometimes the beauty contained within a subject is so deep and limitless that the soul is never satisfied no matter how long one beholds it. There is always one more … Continue reading
Antique Thai Calendar Paintings
The logic of the twelve Thai Zodiac signs follows the logic of Chinese zodiac signs and defines a person’s fortune based on the ‘year’ or birth rather than the … Continue reading
Art of Africa – Kente Cloths
A piece in a museum store priced at US$4000 (only) caught my eye. Such a high valuation piqued my interest and I began reading. The palimpsest of Kente cloths is … Continue reading
March of the Elephants – Naga Cloth Art
Surely this must mean something! One day I will learn what that is! In the meanwhile let’s enjoy the art: This Angami Naga cloth is a part of the wovensouls … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Tantric Shaman’s Ceremonial Costume
Beautifully hand carved apron, crown, arm bands and breastbands made of yak bone. This type of costume is worn in some tantric ceremonies by high priests in certain forms … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Ayuthaya Paintings
One more style of painting – one more delectable recipe that makes the senses dance int his ongoing visual feast – Ayutthaya paintings from Thailand. The subject matter … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Warli Paintings on Dung
The original idea was to use the cow dung walls of homes as the medium to paint on using white pigment made of rice & gum. Then at some point … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Lontar Baskets
“There is no limit to creativity” – these cliched words come alive with these palm leaf baskets that have been decorated with beads … When the first artist created … Continue reading
Royal Loin Cloths of Ceylon
Exploring some amazing rare antique loin cloths of Ceylon
18th Century Transport!
Painting of 18th century transport: Offered by Tremont Auction House. Sold for US$1300 (2016) jm March 2016
News from the National Museum Delhi
25 Feb to 25 April 2016 About the Exhibition As richly patterned silks embellished with gold and silver threads, Banarasi Brocade Saris represent the acme of the subcontinent’s hand – … Continue reading
News from the Met Museum
A new exhibition featuring manuscript paintings (and therefore textiles in paintings) and textiles exploring medieval Islamic textiles in the 20th Century titled Transformed: Medieval Syrian and Iranian Art in the … Continue reading
News from the National Museum Delhi
An interesting pre-exhibition note by the curator on bringing the exhibition “The Everlasting Flame Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination” to Delhi. “A curator’s view: some key items from the British … Continue reading
Picking a Bone …
Picking a bone …. Not exactly any bone. But a Kapala bone. A bone from the skull of a deceased Buddhist Lamaji. Under the assumption that his wisdom and powers … Continue reading
Adornments to Entice
In many cultures in the Eastern hemisphere, lifestyle devices are structured with the intention of security and protection. Clothes and costumes are designed to deflect the viewer’s eyes rather than … Continue reading
A Mother’s Labor of Love – Kohistani Baby’s Cap
In other places mothers-to-be and grandmas-to-be knit booties and mittens for the expected new arrivals. In Kohistan they make a cap. Such amazing work can only be born as a … Continue reading
To Touch My Hero
Hero worship is a BIG thing for me. To dream about meeting them and listening to them and following their footsteps and imbuing a part of their spirit. But mostly, … Continue reading
The Fabulous Biboki weaving of Timor!
Double Sided supplementary weft (or warp?) weave from the Biboki people of Timor. An antique example: A betel nut bag: A vintage example: And a fantastic paper … Continue reading
A New Museum with a Fabulous Fresh Focus!
A museum or rather an institution that focuses on perpetuating the art amongst the creators … a museum in which the creators can see and learn from the work of … Continue reading
The Hunger of an Unfulfilled Dream – Mughal Ganjifa Cards
Years ago, in 2006, I met a friend from high school. We used to be very close in school as only girls can be. And then life happened and we … Continue reading
Hair Ornaments from Asia
Just some photos! Lambani People Silver Braid Ends – that take at least an hour to fix! And help is needed from other women – mother-in-law or sister in law … Continue reading
Protective Spirits from the Past
There are Dayak Baby Carriers and then there are Dayak Baby Carriers. Spirits in some recent ones are wearing clothing and jewelry – like vests and underwear! Maybe it … Continue reading
Textiles in Ancient Balinese Paintings
Life is full of choices and the worst challenges are choosing between two bad choices or between two good choices. Shall I buy a painting or a textile? Shall I … Continue reading
A Romance Unfolds through Art
A love story in an old Bracelet from Qajar Persia. Miniature Paintings on Bone some Gold illuminated, others, copper illuminated!!! Very pretty, very detailed paintings. The story is told … Continue reading
Claim to Fame
When a place is introduced through somethings produced in that region, chances are that that association lasts for a long time. When a dealer informed me that such and such … Continue reading
An Enchanted afternoon with a Master Kamasan Artist
A gift of serendipity – an enchanted afternoon with a master artist in Bali:
‘…..I saw framed artworks , some that were old, some not so old, all over the walls…..’
Daily Art Fix – Antique Dayak Baby Carrier
ATS- Superbly crafted beaded Dayak Baby carrier from Kalimantan This is the only one that I have seen that has the 3 rims (upper, left & right) covered … Continue reading
Daily Art Fix – Ceremonial Sumatra Weaving
A stunning festive weaving from pre-1900 Sumatra
Daily Art Fix
Old Food Covering appropriate for a ceremonial feast! Made of Coconut shell and decorated with sea-shells. Indonesia – probably Sumba. Part of a museum collection jm Dec 2015 … Continue reading
Celebrate the Sunrise
… with a tribal weaving that has sunrise motifs. In many ways . the final days of the trip spent in Ubud, Jagpati, Kamasan and Denpasar villages were the most … Continue reading
