When one sees art made out of materials used to cloth, and style ourselves, it is both exciting and intriguing. As gallerist and curator Sharan Apparao puts it, “Fibre and textiles are integral to human life, woven into our daily routines, our environment, and our identities. These materials are not merely functional but are vital elements that connect us to our surroundings and to each other. They provide comfort, allow us to express our identity, and help us craft our narratives through artistic expression.”
“Entwined,” celebrates the multifaceted role of textiles and showcases how artists have used this medium to create individualistic artistic expressions. From vivid and colourful materials to that which is delicate and subtle, artists have expressed a range of thoughts and emotions with their artwork.
Apparao indicates that in many cultures, textiles became a medium for storytelling, rituals, and ceremonies, conveying deeper meanings and cultural values. The tactile and flexible nature of textiles allowed for the expression of personal and cultural narratives, reflecting the complexities of human development and artistic expression. Historically, textiles have evolved from utilitarian objects into profound works of art as well.
While Madan Meena goes in for an abstract expression of graded dots Mansa Priya Dhulipalla (Featured Image) renders an evocative and detailed self portrait in needle-point. Ankon Mitra uses paper and textile to create his inner lit structural lights, he shares a unique vision of a universe forming and dissolving from acts of folding. Shivani Aggarwal celebrates her childhood involvement in crochet in copper wire and thread through a diaphanous creation titled Weaving Traps. The ‘trap’ is beautiful but it holds you close, which is what makes it even more enticing. Punit Kaushik presents an intricately crafted oval work that is beautifully ornate around the edges but is a vacant space at the centre. His work is intensely personal, defining abstract expression in his emotional, mental and social space.
Manish Nai, has had an association with jute for many years due to his father’s Jute factory. His works defy categorisation, comprising of jute (coarse or fine), butter paper, handmade paper, his collages conceive intricate forms. Here he explores the minimal abstract expression with restraint and yet it is highly expressive.
Bobby Agarwal expresses the yin and yang the negative and the positive of life through his floral forms against dark blue and white. Aloka Bannerjee also uses the floral form but it is less ordered and evokes nature through a splash of colour and a miscellany of forms. Surekh employs both the figurative as well as the abstract expressions to evoke a feminine energy through her work, while Neha Dhir Puri’s beautifully graded resist-dye work captures her control of the precise chemistry that conveys a variety of emotions.
Artists draw inspiration from these time-honoured practices, infusing them with new
ideas and materials to create works that push the boundaries of textile art. Entwined allows viewers to witness this evolution in this exhibition, showcasing how traditional crafts have transformed into contemporary artistic expressions that honour their rich heritage while celebrating the artistic innovations of the artists on view.
Catch the show is on till the 23rd August 2024 at Bikaner House CCA Gallery
Feature Image: Portrait by Mansa Priya Dhulipalla| Courtesy: Georgina Maddox
Georgina is an independent critic-curator with 18 years of experience in the field of Indian art and culture. She blurs the lines of documentation, theory and praxis by involving herself in visual art projects. Besides writing on immersive art for STIRworld, she is a regular contributor for The Hindu, MASH Mag and Architectural Digest.
