Craft from across the country

Intricate Items

T he craft exhibition, that is currently on at the Prema Chandra Sagar Kalyana Mantap, Ashoka Pillar, features the work of more than 60 artisans.

Organised by the Srinidhi Arts and Crafts Emporium, it includes a variety of fine items like intricate Tanjore paintings, Kashmiri shawls and wood carving.

The first item to catch a visitor’s eye are the colourful clay statues and pots, placed outside the venue. These are handcrafted by a select group of 18 women from Rajasthan. The price ranges from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000.

The exhibition includes an unorthodox blend of western handbags, cardholders, books  — ranging from encyclopedias and novels to commerce text books — read-along CDs for children and furniture, as well as the more traditional Rajasthani jewellery, handicraft, dress material and clothes. There’s a separate stall for spices and eatables, set up at various counters, serving fried tapioca chips, traditional jeera, spicy mango, amla
pickle and imli ladoos.

In terms of clothes, visitors are spoilt for choice. There are dress materials, beautifully embroidered borders for saris and salwars, as well as a wide range of traditional and Rajasthani saris and salwar sets. “Ours is a family business, started 20 years ago,” says Bhailal, a Gujarati artisan who is manning the Kutch-Bhuj manufacturers stall for clothes.
“Every piece is hand-painted. My daughter designs these Kashmiri pants.”

 Many of the ornaments are inspired by mythological figures and the colourful stones are guaranteed to catch the eye. Vikranth Singh, who is representing his entire family at the exhibition, says that the ornaments on display at his stall were designed and made in Rajasthan. The stones that are embedded in the ornaments are collected from all over the world.

He also displayed fine meenakari as well as kundan work. In the handicraft section, there are colourful and finely-painted jewellery boxes, made of metal and wood. Brass-studded furniture is also available. Their prices range from Rs 250 to Rs 30,000.

Intricate Madhubani paintings are also on display, starting from Rs 650.

“The paintings are made on handmade paper using vegetable colour,” says Uma Kanth, one of the stall owners from Bihar.

Selvam, another artisan, was displaying Tanjore paintings made from gold and kundan stones. They range from Rs 4,000 to Rs 1,50,000.
The exhibition will be on till May 19.