This post wraps up the panel discussion held on Sep 3, at the NGMA, Mumbai, as a tribute to Padma Shri Astad Deboo. He experimented, broke boundaries and created new paradigms that has an everlasting impact… he belonged to not one city, school, genre or creative form but seamlessly moved in all. Video link to the entire discussion is in the post.
Happy Birthday Astad ❤ This post is dedicated to his magnificent flair for textiles, style, fashion, colours and his experiments in their fluid transition in his unique style of Indian contemporary dance.
This article was written by me in 2001 as the lead for the craft documentation team of 5 students. It closely observes the crucial role of craft regeneration in the creation of livelihood, leading to empowerment of women and education, health and hygiene for children and the whole community of Bhils there.
One morning in March, 2024, India woke up to a headline that shocked us beyond belief * India's pride, Bengaluru, had no water!!! Born and brought up in Rajasthan and having spent most of my life there and in Gujarat, both desert states of India, water scarcity was something we were aware of being integral to our lives.
This post is a review of the book 'The Shoemaker's Stitch: Mochi Embroideries of Gujarat in the TAPI Collection', published last year by Niyogi Books. It is as delicately narrated as the embroidery itself by Shilpa Shah and Rosemary Crill. Each page is like another stitch into the past of the embroidery and the lavish photos do justice to the exquisite embroidery. The festive season of India is upon us, and women are digging into their treasure chests for old textiles that are still wearable or can be upscaled.
For our 3rd year, we are honoured to announce our panel of 'Jadughar Experts' who will advise us with their valuable wisdom. Museums in most parts of India were called a ‘Jadughar’ or ‘Ajaibghar’ meaning a physical space of magic, our project attempts to transform the Museum into an accessible and inclusive digital, intellectual, emotional,... Continue Reading →
This 2023 Women's Day post is dedicated to the most awesome Priyanka Tolia and her Design Studio Chitku – a design and craft collaborative established in 2009. Wishing you, your team and this little girl the very best wishes for a peaceful life, full of love and safe women's day, every day!
My name is Shamsul. I am originally from Bihar, I ran away from my home at the age of seven and came to Delhi and became a permanent resident of New Delhi Railway Station. Astadji meant everything for me and will remain so. He was like a Father and an Angel. I consider him as my Father.
You are cordially invited to Breaking Boundaries - A retrospective on the life of Astad Deboo: a journey through his time, work and vision, opening on Dec 10, 2022, Mumbai. The exhibition on the life, vision and work of Astad Deboo has been conceptualised like going on a journey with him - trekking and hitchhiking, heartbroken during his struggles, applauding his successes, in rhythm with his dance moves.
On Impresario: A Heritage Foundry we present an interview with Stephen Barker. A heritage advisor and museum consultant for museums in England, Stephen has been researching on the role of Indians as part of the British army during the World Wars. He closely examines their lives and activities on the battlefield and after. ‘The Museum Memories Project’ catches up with him on his latest book called 'Lion of the Skies: Hardit Singh Malik, the Royal Air Force and the First World War’ (it is called 'The Flying Sikh' outside India).
