Introducing The Swat & Kohistan Textiles Collection on Wovensouls.com
Introducing a small collection of textiles from a culture that is literally being extinguished by war. The silk embroidery of these textiles is as fine and delicate as their living … Continue reading
Traveling Godmen
An addition to the article on the Traveling Godmen or spiritual healers of rural India. This morning I came across this extravagantly decorated Bullock and the owner, going from door … Continue reading
Vanishing Cultural Knowledge – the Penans of Borneo
This a picture* of a man from the Penan group that now number 10,000 and is probably the last group that lives surviving solely on the produce of hunting & … Continue reading
Mystical Gold Ornaments from the past
When I look at some of the ornaments from the past, they leave me awestruck! The art & craft within them is doubtlessly stunning. But beyond that, there is an … Continue reading
Lifestyle & Beliefs of the Dard Aryan Ethnic Group of Ladakh
“It happens when it happens” Time is not a rare commodity and leisure is a luxury that all enjoy. ‘It happens when it happens’. No hurry. No time crunch. No … Continue reading
The beauty of a Powerful Red Dragon
Of the 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac, the dragon is the most powerful animal associated with a given year in the cycle of 12 years. Children born in the … Continue reading
Turquoise Art – The Blue Veil of Ladakh
An unusual Museum Quality Perak headdress from the Purang / Burang region. Authentic heirloom peraks are extreme,y rare now and among Peraks Purang Peraks are the rarest to find. The … Continue reading
Navratri – the Festival of Garba and Raas Dance
With the Full Moon night of this lunar month, the season of festivals begins in India. The festival phase of the year coincide with the lean activity phases in farming … Continue reading
Art in Antique Hookah Shisha Pipes
My children are surprised to learn that Hookah and Shisha is not a discovery of their generation! That generation (and every other before it) of young people believes that every … Continue reading
A walk through a traditional Ryukyu Village, Okinawa, Japan
Ryukyu Kingdom – Wikipedia says it existed between the 15th & 19th century. A walk through a village in Okinawa that has been reconstructed by transporting century old houses from … Continue reading
The Hungry Ghost and Shraadh Rituals
Today is the first day after the NO-MOON night. For the many religions that mark their lives with the moon’s revolutions this date marks the first day of a new … Continue reading
Goan Fisherman’s tale – traditional wisdom, traditional fishing
While one half of the world chases efficiency and big money, Goa continues to chase the perfect life. Afternoon siestas are still not traded for earnings. I have been turned … Continue reading
The story of the Pattua Painting of Bengal in the Wovensouls Collection
A few months ago, I spotted a piece of vintage folk art and without knowing quite what it was, I acquired it. It was a scroll, about 1 foot wide … Continue reading
Ankle Jewelry or Payal or Jhanjhar Traditions of Asia
All the assets in this article are a part of the WOVENSOULS collection and additional details of each asset may be viewed here on WovenSouls.com . Payal … a piece … Continue reading
DOCUMENTING THE SLOW EXTINCTION OF LAMBANI TEXTILE TRADITIONS
The tribal group known as the Lambanis have settled in South-West India and are known for their unique textile & jewelry adornments. Their traditional costumes are strong signatures and announcers … Continue reading
Wall Art of Rural Rajasthan
Dedicated to those mistaken souls for whom ‘rural’ implies ‘poor’ or ‘undeveloped’ or ‘in-need-of-upliftment’. May the following pictures give them reason to modify their beliefs. Following are pictures of a … Continue reading
Camels go on a Pilgrimage with their Tribal Masters to pray
I am in Kutch. One of the districts of Gujarat. Which is one of the 28 states of India. This little portion tucked away in a corner of India bordering … Continue reading
Additions to the Wovensouls Antique Textile Gallery – Tribal Bags
A few tribal bags that were acquired on my travels….. Some are bags originally used by tribals. Others are made using antique or vintage tribal textiles. All gorgeous. All very … Continue reading
Quill Art of the First People
A short slideshow on the Quill Art of the first people of North America. But first some interesting facts about quillwork : Quillwork, the oldest form of embroidery of … Continue reading
Meeting Lambani Textile Artists
Awhile ago, while doing research for an art installation project, I met these textile artists who work for themselves – who create their gorgeous art mainly for self-consumption and not … Continue reading
Costumes of the First People – a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum
Feel like watching a fashion show? Visit the Royal Ontario Museum and view their rexhibits on the costumes of the First People. These works of textile art are housed at … Continue reading
