Forgiving & The Walking Stick
Over our long lives, we all face some moments that scar us deeply and leave black memories. My oldest memory as a 2 year-old is that of a death in … Continue reading
Mysteries within Textiles
Mysteries hidden in the Tampan Ship cloths of Sumatra … Am enjoying the stimulation of “what does this mean” in each and every piece. Looking closely at the arrangement of … Continue reading
Hainan Brocades & Embroidery
I have just been introduced to two groups of textile arts created by the Li people of Hainan. As I learn I am sharing the resources that I’ve found. Hainan … Continue reading
Spectacular Beadworks across Cultures
I begin my mornings ensconced in my room, away from the newspaper, away from any human contact. The thing that won’t let me sleep longer, the one thing that excites … Continue reading
Museum Walk – Mataram Museum, Indonesia
Just a quick post with photos from the Mataram museum in Lombok Indonesia (an island east of Bali). First, the piece that I enjoyed the most … a figurative woven … Continue reading
Keeping the Butter Safe
This woven device is an Indhoni or a pot holder, hung up from the ceiling beams. The raison d’etre for such a hanging is to hold pots of milk / … Continue reading
The Dancing Girl with the Parrot – Kalamkari from the 17th C
Have you been introduced this lovely lady? Have you seen her lovely clothes and lovely jewels? Is that a hand fan she is carrying? What is she saying to her … Continue reading
Diverse Media of Dayak Art
I can actually ‘feel’ the compulsion they must have felt to decorate anything and everything around them! Literally any thing! The diversity of media used to express their highly developed … Continue reading
The Thrill of Discovering New Old Arts
So in my collecting habits, I am like a butterfly … go after whatever entices the heart or the eye. Most of the time the pieces that allure fall within … Continue reading
Animal Antics – A Shekarlu Rug
On my first trip to Ladakh in 2011, I met some nomad children through serendipity, and was fascinated by their life so much that I decided to instantly follow them … Continue reading
A Step into the Kantha World
A first tentative step into the new world of old Kantha textiles. Or should I say Old World? Here is a small section of one with a scene, that I … Continue reading
The Journey of Discovery – A Kashmiri Shawl
The journey of discovery is indeed fun! Getting to know an artwork is a process of gazing. There are only two requirements though to make it fun: lots of time … Continue reading
Something Unusual .. A Blue Base Suzani
Am new to the category of Suzanis. No books. No hours spent looking at images. No museum visits. So forgive me if I have made a mistake with this one. … Continue reading
The Nayanar Saints – Exploration through Art
Who expected to be learning history through art? And what will we do with learning all this history? I didn’t ever think it was important to know what other did … Continue reading
Originals, Reproductions, Fakes, Investments …
….and other ramblings. *** In some categories of art it is easy to spot a reproduction. For example the Mona Lisa is a very well known painting and if we … Continue reading
Meet the Weavers / Northern Thailand
Meet the Weavers from Northern Thailand Hilltribes. See more here : https://wovensouls.com/products/portraits-long-neck-karen-tribe-northern-thailand ** jm wovensouls.com
A Lesson in Humility
This Pua Kumbu Sungkit (Link) that has just recently arrived to grace my life, reminded me of a personal anecdote that taught me a lesson. Years ago, I saw my … Continue reading
Short Non-Academic Online Talks on Art & Culture
With the availability of new technology, I have hosted a few online talks on ZOOM. The talks are all non-academic and explore the stories that surround the art. They are … Continue reading
Tech+Art at Christie’s
Technology at the service of art can have amazing results as can be seen from the way the Christie’s Asian Art Auction has been presented online: Take a look: Christie’s … Continue reading
A Glimpse of Banarasi Sari Weaving – 1
A little abouta visit to the handloom weaving centre in Banaras through which I learnt a few things. Since I have not learnt about textile design I had no idea … Continue reading
The Showstopper
THE SHOWSTOPPER at the Phulkari AUCTION Sep 6 on Liveauctioneers. A Rare BAGH Sainchi Phulkari … with the base cloth completely covered up in silk stitches! As in all Sainchis … Continue reading
