One of the greatest testimonies to Indian textiles is the deep commitment it solicits in others. Carole Douglas has dedicated many years of her life to honouring the craft traditions of Kutch – a remote desert area of NW India and sharing a border with Pakistan. For Douglas, her involvement with textiles and the arts … Continue reading Carole Douglas builds partnerships for a less lonely planet
Author: House
Kumhaargram exhibition
In collaboration with INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE, DELHI The South Asia Foundation Invites you to “Kumhaargram: Lifeline of Green Delhi”…Crafting Excellence Inauguration by Dr. Karan Singh, Honourable Member of Parliament at 12 noon on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 An exhibition of pottery items by the potters of “Kumhaargram”, New Delhi. One of the largest settlements … Continue reading Kumhaargram exhibition
Marian Hosking–India with a silver lining
Travelling and teaching in India has been a very stimulating visual and cultural experience. The diverse and rich culture especially the architecture and craft practices have had a lasting impact on me and my approach to making. I had used pattern prior to visiting India and was also very interested in printed fabrics. Now I … Continue reading Marian Hosking–India with a silver lining
Roundtable–the need to get the story straight
In Delhi last year, Sangam – the Australia India Design Platformhosted a roundtable and forum to share concepts and issues in global craft and design partnerships. There are many opportunities to link artisans to foreign markets through designers. What are new models for this transnational product development? What are the ethical issues and how might … Continue reading Roundtable–the need to get the story straight
Better World Arts: Friendship calls, from Kaltjiti to Kashmir
[photofade order=’random’] Carolyn Wilson has created a remarkable path between Australia and India, finding a way to jointly promote cultural sustainability of Kashmiri artisans and Aboriginal communities. This unusual but successful conjunction arose partly from answering the call of a friend, twice. Carolyn is the founder of Better World Arts, an organisation that paved new … Continue reading Better World Arts: Friendship calls, from Kaltjiti to Kashmir
A taste of Sangam
Before serving the main course of ideas and debates coming out of the recent events in Delhi, here’s a taster of the opinions sampled during discussions.
Australia India Design Residency–Reflections by Trent Jansen
I arrived in Delhi late at night and having never spent time in India previously I was of course amazed by the apparent chaos of the place. For a very ordered and organised person, the sights, sounds and machine guns that greeted me at the airport were all a concern. I took a Taxi to … Continue reading Australia India Design Residency–Reflections by Trent Jansen
Thanks, Delhi
The first phase of the Australia India Design Platform concluded in October with a series of generative meetings and lively discussions. Thanks to Vik Kanwar and academic staff at the Jindal Global Law School for providing important research into the comparative use of codes in Australia and India. The reception hosted by the Australian High … Continue reading Thanks, Delhi
The Best of Both Worlds: International Collaborations in Craft & Design
Saturday 22 October 2011 5-7pm National Institute of Fashion Technology amphitheatre Green Park, New Delhi, India (see map) ‘The Best of Both Worlds’ considers the increasing number of transnational partnerships being forged between craft and design. How can we combine the free-wheeling possibilities of modern capitalist world with the grounded meaning of cultural traditions? Typically, … Continue reading The Best of Both Worlds: International Collaborations in Craft & Design
The making of Sangam
A few months ago, I found out about the Australia India Design Platform. This platform is meant to act as a catalyst for creative partnership between the two countries. I was contacted to give a name and identity to this three year program on craft and design. After much thought and consultation, we settled on … Continue reading The making of Sangam
Travelling Responsibly through India
Culture – General Be prepared to be surprised. India is a country of diverse landscapes, languages, customs, religions and cultures and it is home to more than a billion people. What is considered acceptable behaviour in some parts may not be in others. This contrast is probably best observed when you compare the cities to … Continue reading Travelling Responsibly through India
Who made it? Draft standards for ethical labelling
The Harris Tweed label was tremendously successful in promoting textile crafts in the Scottish islands. There are parallel moves today in the use of geographical indications. But such labels do not include the names of those who wove the cloth. When would this be appropriate? What happens when the label is a designer brand, such … Continue reading Who made it? Draft standards for ethical labelling