New Parliament building’s opulent gallery

At the newly inaugurated Parliament building, a gallery showcases India’s fine craftsmanship with an eight-installation concept.

Designed by Dastkari Haat Samiti’s president Jaya Jaitly, the Shilp Gallery exhibits the creative imprints of over 350 artisans narrating India’s versatile cultural and crafts history.

For nine months, the crafts association collaborated closely with artists to create this gigantic display, which includes significant craft forms from all Indian states and union territory.

The Shilp Gallery seeks to distill the essence of some of the major craft skills and art forms that have come down to us as a part of our living heritage as a state and as a civilisation.

All eight installations on display are divided into themes — Gyan, Prakriti, Aastha, Ullas, Parv, Samrasta, Swavlamban and Yatra — have been conceived as unique, contemporary interpretations of India’s historical, cultural and intellectual legacy; rooted deep in the past, yet reimagined in the present.

“This gallery honours and represents India’s culture, craft, and communities. No other country in the world has such a vast and diverse cultural heritage as India,” Dastkari Haat Samiti President Jaya Jaitly tells Patriot.

“I believe this is the first time that any public or political building has given such importance to craft and craftspeople,” she says, expressing her gratitude for the chance. “It has given a significant impetus to the dialogue about the revival of craft in the country, as well as the opportunity to present India’s living heritage in such a historic edifice,” she adds.

For all the installations, different artisans were handpicked from all over the country. The installation of embroidered quilts in the multiple installations follows the universal tradition of quilt-making, which is a wise and sustainable way of recycling old saris, headcloths or leftover fabric from tailor shops.

Renowned artists involved in the project were Tilfi , Shelly Jyoti, Puneet Kaushik and Purnima Rai. The Ministry of Culture, Govt of India commissioned the work through the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts.

Here is how it looks