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Notes on Culture & Antique Art, Ethnic Decor & Vintage Fashion | Wovensouls Art Gallery

Honor Rituals & Red Phulkaris – A Hypothesis

“Use of Phulkaris in Wedding Rituals – Social Practices in Punjab pre-1947” is a report based on an independent exploratory study that focuses on the use of Red & White … Continue reading

February 13, 2022 · Leave a comment

Note on Red Phulkaris / Use in Wedding Consummation Rituals

Immersive exposure and study of the 29 white-base phulkaris led to certain observations. Supplemented by readings of published material (Cooney (2019), Hershman (1981) and Ibbetson (1939)) led to the formation … Continue reading

August 9, 2021 · 2 Comments

Stay Tuned: Report on Cultural Use of Phulkaris coming soon….

Old books on the culture of Punjab surround me. Notes from the fieldwork done in 8 cities in Punjab surround me. 29 white & red Phulkaris surround me. And a … Continue reading

August 5, 2021 · 1 Comment

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

October 20, 2019 · Leave a comment

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

July 8, 2019 · 5 Comments

A Note on Phulkari Classification

A compilation of my jottings on Phulkaris Textiles of Punjab

April 30, 2019 · 4 Comments

Textile Study Tour of Punjab

Preface on the minor notes about the textile study tour, Punjab, 2019

March 16, 2019 · Leave a comment

A Visit to The Golden Temple – Amritsar

One cannot go to Punjab and not go to the Golden Temple in Amritsar….A few photos

March 15, 2019 · 2 Comments

Learning History through Art – Sikh Rule in Kashmir

Exploring an example of Sikh influence in Kashmir through illuminated paintings in the Kashmir school from a Bhagavat Gita manuscript written in Sikhi Gurmukhi script

March 12, 2019 · 1 Comment

The Olden Days – Punjab

Can you feel the peace in this village? It is almost as if time had stopped still here: That era always attracts me and makes me wistful …the helplessness of … Continue reading

February 25, 2019 · 3 Comments

Glimpses of Punjab

A few photos that offer a little cultural flavour of the style Punjab. It was a delight to witness the preservation of ethnic identity in-spite of the tsunami of bland … Continue reading

February 24, 2019 · 3 Comments

Conversations – The Soul of Punjab

A few photos of the grand old women and men who were young at the time of the “hallaa” … the Partition.

Over deep conversations about phulkaris, over chai & pakodas followed by parathas & butter, we bonded – discussing the culture of their youth, of their childhood homes and the culture of the time.

February 21, 2019 · 2 Comments

A Textile Lover’s Dream

7am As I struggled to walk barefoot at 15 degrees Centigrade on even colder marble floors – suddenly I see this vision: An unopened pile of textiles …who knows what … Continue reading

February 20, 2019 · 1 Comment

The Story of a Skirt from Punjab

This is a little story about the background of a Punjabi textile that is a few metres long. It is about the culture of Punjab from a century ago. It … Continue reading

February 19, 2019 · 1 Comment

A Phulkari Fan from the Olden Days

Here’s another cultural remnant of the olden days in Punjab – A ceiling fan decorated with Phulkari work: The rope is used to swing the fan and is held by … Continue reading

February 5, 2019 · 2 Comments

A Charkha Spinning Wheel

Sighting of a decorated Charkha Spinning Wheel – used in a vanishing craft

February 3, 2019 · 3 Comments

Wearing her mother’s Bridal Haalvan Phulkari

A “haalvan” phulkari is done on very fine cotton cloth that is similar to mul mul. This is the first time I held one in my hand! All bridal textiles … Continue reading

January 30, 2019 · 2 Comments

Hidden Gems – new sightings in old acquisitions! 

In an embroidery rich in texture and motifs and age, it was easy to miss the 5th color used sparingly – it hid within the flowers – almost shy of … Continue reading

September 21, 2017 · Leave a comment

A Story in A Sar Pallu Phulkari Textile

Before we had cartoon TV serials, we had cartoon comics. Like Tarzan and Phantom and Dennis and Amar Chitra Katha. But before that, we had textiles! And stories were written … Continue reading

August 6, 2016 · Leave a comment

DAILY ART FIX – AN ARTWORK A DAY

An addict constantly needs a fix to keep him stable. Me – in moments of extreme stress I find solace & peace in viewing works of traditional art. In normal … Continue reading

July 7, 2015 · 3 Comments

Female Infanticide – Documented in a Sainchi Phulkari?

Looking at an antique Sainchi phulkari – a work of textile art depicting village scenes that includes a scene of female infanticide.

May 25, 2015 · Leave a comment

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