The recent ‘Through Indian Eyes’ hypothetical forum at the Powerhouse Museum reveal some surprising common ground between traditional craft in India and modern life in Australia. An Indian comes to Australia to revive a craft skill that had been outmoded by technological change… Wait a minute, shouldn’t it be the other way around? The ‘Through … Continue reading When an Indian designer comes to Australia…
Fashion design with a conscience
Western designers working with traditional artisans in India creating products for a consumer market with an ethical consciousness. How can the designers contribute to the artisan communities in a sustainable way? Bhukhu is an appliqué embroiderer from the small village of Marharbat, near Barmer in Rajasthan, India. She is sixty-four years old. Bhukhu learnt the … Continue reading Fashion design with a conscience
Mutual Respect: Draft Standards for Product Development
Draft Standards for Best Practice in Transnational Craft-Design Partnerships Part 2 This Best Practice document includes standards that help guide those seeking to ensure an ethical basis for product development involving designers and artisans. They pertain to situations where the concepts of a designer and craft skills of an artisan are combined to develop a … Continue reading Mutual Respect: Draft Standards for Product Development
Make it New Again starts in Ahmedabad on 22 November
Make It New Again: Models for Innovation in Traditional Craft 22-24 November 2012 National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India Craft is a form of production that uplifts communities, tells stories that connect people together, and fills our world with beauty. India is a treasury of the world’s craft traditions, clothing, sheltering, feeding and adorning people … Continue reading Make it New Again starts in Ahmedabad on 22 November
Put a name to it: Standards for Labelling
The Australia India Design Platform seeks to gather views around standards for creative partnerships between designers and artisans. One contentious standard concerns whether the name of the artisan(s) should feature on the label. There are positive reasons for this, not only related to fairness, but also the value added by the reputation of the maker. … Continue reading Put a name to it: Standards for Labelling
UTS Fashion and Textile India Tour Exhibition
See how the UTS textile and fashion students worked with artisans through the Happy Hands workshop in Delhi. 1-15 November 2012UTS Textiles Library, 730 Harris Street, Ultimo, DAB Building 6, Level 3, Room 346 Opening 1 November 12pm Nine UTS fashion and textile students embarked on a journey to India for a celebration of Australian … Continue reading UTS Fashion and Textile India Tour Exhibition
The clay bridge between Australia and India
Sandra Bowkett will be talking at the Gold Coast Gallery on Saturday 25 August about her experiences as an Australian potter working in India. She’ll be preceded by Kevin Murray reflecting on the growing relational nature of craft practice, particularly in ceramics. He will explore the idea of clay as a lingua franca between difficult … Continue reading The clay bridge between Australia and India
Jugalbandi opening in Sydney
India / Australia / Design Jugalbandi & Cultural Textiles Jugalbandi: Designed and Made in India and Australia Cultural Textiles, COFA student research at India’s National Institute of Design Jugalbandi: Designed and Made in Australia and India is a series of exhibitions curated by Kevin Murray that profile the creative design dialogues currently in play between … Continue reading Jugalbandi opening in Sydney
Chikankari–How to protect the fragile thread that connects generations
Minna Loft, a graduate from jewellery at Monash University, reflects on her recent experience learning about Indian crafts in northern India India never ceases to amaze me, continually impressive and unpredictable. The generosity that I have experienced in India is breathtaking. I recently headed back there for my own research and intrigue. With previous experience … Continue reading Chikankari–How to protect the fragile thread that connects generations
Carole Douglas builds partnerships for a less lonely planet
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
Happy Hands opens a new door for craft in the city
Medhavi Gandhi from the foundation Happy Hands talks about the need to develop creative potential among craftspersons, particularly to connect to new urban markets. What made you interested in craft? At first, I did not even know how many types of crafts or arts our country could boast of – but as an intern for … Continue reading Happy Hands opens a new door for craft in the city
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