Textiles in a Textile – Study of a 17th C Kalamkari – 3
A study of Costumes & Textiles in a 17th century Kalamkari textile. Note not just the prints and motifs but also the style of the stitched garments! A must-study for … Continue reading
The Best Exotic Azeri Shaddah Weaving
(Title inspired by the Hollywood film Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) So after rummaging through the internet for Shaddahs or Shaddas, I have come to appreciate mine even more than ever. … Continue reading
Rangoli – Featuring my Aunts
Here’s a link to lovely film on Rangoli – the folk art of powder painting that was practiced across the length & breadth of India by all housewives. ALL. Video … Continue reading
Textiles in Ancient Indian Murals
Ikat and other Textile Patterns in Ancient Wall Murals in South India ❤️
Hybrid Art 8 – Gurmukhi Script in a Hindu Prayer Book
I am not a formal student of Indian Miniature paintings but have seen a few here and there and can now identify the Kashmir style of art. These paintings are … Continue reading
WHO are these MEN?
Fascinating to find five men lurking in a soumac rug fragment….. Here they are! Am assuming they are men because of the hair. The lower half is mermaidesque … am … Continue reading
Hybrid Art 7 – Kashmir Shawl
Finding pieces that are ‘pure’ in their identity is always a pleasure. But finding pieces that have some hybrid qualities adds excitement to the process of discovery of the character … Continue reading
Who knew! Butterfly Wing Art
Who could have imagined that the world went through a phase in which they made paintings using butterfly wings! With a short lifespan of 2 weeks, it may well be … Continue reading
Textiles in a Textile – Study of a 17th C Kalamkari
A fabulous work of art that also presents us with a glimpse of textiles and costumes in use in India in the 17th century. This rumal bears a date and … Continue reading
A Flock of Sheep in the Living Room
From the late 1800s many towns of the Kuba district were centres of production for Soumac rugs but most were produced in workshops and exhibited a certain order in the … Continue reading
Hybrid Art 6 – Swat Pillow Case
A hybrid textile that memetically straddles two worlds … The motif is from Caucasus region and often seen in wool rugs while the execution in this piece from the Swat … Continue reading
Hybrid Art – 5 – Himalayan Ornament
Here is a hybrid from the Himalayas. A Taweez is worn to ward off the evil eye and is a concept that finds favor in Islamic communities. But in this … Continue reading
Hybrid Art – 4 – Phulkari Shawl
667 Amazing Sar Pallu on a navy blue Nilak base cloth. The impact of the gold & magenta against the deep blue base is amazing! But the remarkable aspect of this … Continue reading
Little Temples in Gold – Majapahit Gold Rings
Pramabanan Temples. On a visit in 2016 I did not do it justice to the experience. At many levels. Just one day at the heritage site. A visit scheduled during … Continue reading
Desert Art – Motifs of the Bishnoi People
How can one not love this art? In my few trips to Rajasthan I’ve not had the good fortune of seeing these in-situ .. being worn by the Bishnoi women. … Continue reading
A Bird Watcher’s Delight
I’d heard of Bird Rugs ….usually associated with Afshar group of South Persia. Something like this: But now I’m seeing a Bird Shawl! This Cantonese work of art has … Continue reading
Animal Love
We all love our animals! The Qashqai weaver put hers in her rug while I had a few sweet moments with a sheep & a goat in my lap! See … Continue reading
Lion of Punjab – Sher-e-Punjab
Punjab – the land that has been facing invasions for centuries – values bravery and courage. And the lion offers an excellent metaphor for these values. Maharana Ranjit Singh was … Continue reading
All Creatures Great & Small
The writings of explorer-authors form a bridge between our urban world and the world of nomads and other rural communities who live by different life models. Reading about those … Continue reading
The Life of an Old Thangka
Thangkas that were once in active use for worship hung in high places inside monasteries. They are exposed to butter-lamp vapors over decades.The inside of a monastery is filled with … Continue reading
A Sumba Queen’s Gift
The joy of the day is a Sumba Queen’s gift to her daughter And to all of us in the textile-art world. For here we are enjoying her creation from … Continue reading
