A celebration of rare Indian textiles

In an upcoming exhibition entitled “Aina,” India’s rich textile craft heritage will be celebrated, aiming to preserve the nation’s textile legacy for future generations. Curated by textile archivist and researcher, Sareekah Agarwal, the exhibition seeks to document the timeless textile artifacts that have been tucked away in the closets of select Indian families.

In a conversation with Patriot, Sareekah Agarwal emphasized the significance of the event in fostering a connection between customers and creators.

“These stories will forever serve as a bridge between generations of makers or owners, ensuring that these valuable textiles retain their essence and are not reduced to mere objects to be discarded or given away. To truly capture the essence of a textile object, it is essential to document the emotional connections and memories that individuals have with their textiles,” Agarwal told Patriot.

Agarwal further expressed the goal of gathering individuals from rural areas who possess one or more exceptional textile pieces, overlooked in their closets but imbued with significance and emotions. The aim is to encourage them to contribute their cherished textile belongings and share the stories of their existence for posterity.

The exhibition will showcase a diverse range of Indian handcrafted textiles and needlework from various regions, including the magnificent brocades of Varanasi, the captivating kasuti of Karnataka, Kanjivaram, and the lovely Gadwal, among others. Through comprehensive documentation and narrative, the exhibition intends to present these textile artifacts in their full context to a wide audience, encompassing both academia and the general public.

The exhibition launch, scheduled for May 12, 2023, will be officiated by Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary of IGNCA; Ruchira Ghose, Former Chairman of the National Crafts Museum; and Purnima Rai, Former President of the Delhi Crafts Council.

Additionally, the event will feature an insightful conversation with experts on the topic “Does Unfolding Layers of Stories from Textiles Aid in Their Preservation?” The conversation will take place on May 13, 2023, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with registration beginning at 4:30 pm. Anamika Pathak, Chairperson of TCRC and Former Curator of the National Museum will serve as the Chief Advisor for the event.

Where: Seminar Hall, First Floor, Kamaladevi Complex, India International Centre, New Delhi 110003.

When:11:00 am – 7:00 pm;  May 13- May 21