A photo show on handloom fabrics

To create awareness on the age-old craft of handloom weaving, a photo exhibition was launched at the Rangoli Metro Art Center in the City on Sunday.

Black-and-white photographs of the handloom sector taken by City-based Arjun Swaminathan are on display as part of the exhibition titled  ‘A Hand held tradition.’ Theatre personality B Jayashree, leader of handloom movement and theatre activist Prasanna among others were present during the inauguration of the photo show.

“I had captured the pictures at Heggodu village in Shimoga district, wherein large number of men and women are into handloom weaving. It is unfortunate that not much importance is given to this art,” said Swaminathan.

Theatre activist Prasanna said that while the demand for handloom fabric was high across the world, the production was decreasing by each passing day.

“The State government is killing the craft by not supporting the handloom weavers. Instead, it is backing power looms. Handloom weaving has a history of 5,000 years in our country and our handloom fabrics are much sought after in other countries as they are natural and pure cotton.”

Discussion

Apart from the exhibition, there was an interactive panel discussion on the state of handloom in the industry and the problems plaguing the weavers.

Jayashree said that earlier drivers of government vehicles in the State had to wear handwoven clothes. “This practice must be reintroduced by the government. We should avoid polyester clothes and start buying handwoven fabrics,” she added.

The photo exhibition organised by Desi Trust will be on till Tuesday. It is open to public from 10 am to 7 pm.