Kiran Nadar Museum Of Art presents "ART HOURS"

EE News Desk Apr 27, 2023

Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), in collaboration with the National Crafts Museum, presents “ART HOURS” – a two-day workshop series that aims to introduce the techniques behind India’s intricate textile traditions. The series is set to take place on the 28th and 29th of April 2023 at the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

The collaboration is planned as an extension of musuem’s efforts to take art outside of the museum space making it accessible and offering the public another innovative way to engage with and celebrate India's vibrant cultural and artistic heritage.

Celebrating the spirit of traditional craft forms through a variety of regional techniques, participants will get the unique opportunity to learn from India's most talented artisans and textile designers. Some of the highlights include a Gond art workshop led by an artisan from Bhopal, a Sikki grass weaving workshop led by an artisan from Bihar, a Shibori dyeing workshop led by Agrima Wadhwa, a Textile Designer from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, and an Eco Botanical Printing workshop, also led by Agrima Wadhwa. Additionally, participants can also take part in a personalised block-making and printing workshop and Punch Embroidery workshop.

In addition to these workshops, attendees can also participate in group yoga sessions, a tour of the museum's textile archives with Bindu Manchanda, a walkthrough and interactive conversation on Telia Rumal and IKAT with leading fashion Designers David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore followed by a jam session in honour of World Dance Day - organised in collaboration with “Friends of ART'' an NGO with the primary objective of providing support to contemporary performing & visual artists from diverse fields.

This series is designed to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of India's textile traditions by showcasing the beauty and richness of old-age craft forms. Through a series of workshops, participants will have the chance to learn from experts in the field and gain a deeper appreciation of the unique craftsmanship involved in these textile traditions.

The workshops have a limited number of seats (20 to 30 individuals per workshop), allowing for an interactive and immersive learning experience.

Schedule and Important Information

Day 1 - Friday, 28th April 2023

Gond Art - Workshop led by an artisan from Bhopal

Discover with us the creativity and craftsmanship behind Gond paintings. A form of painting, distinctively known for its rich detail, bright colours, embedded mystery, and a taste of humour. Learn to create Gond art using modern materials and methods brilliantly to represent contemporary scenes and concerns on canvas and paper while keeping true to age-old traditions and style.

Timing - 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Number of participants – 30

Sikki Grass Weaving - Workshop led by Artisan from Bihar

Discover the joy of Sikki weaving, Bihar’s distinctive ancient handicraft which is known for its beauty, utility and being eco-friendly. Learn the intricate technique behind the craftsmanship of Sikki weaving that involves weaving fine strands of the golden grass into intricate designs to create baskets, mats, boxes, and other decorative items to take back home.

Timing - 12:30pm to 2:30 pm

Number of participants – 20

Shibori Dyeing Workshop

Discover the entrancing, age-old art of resist dyeing; tie and dye, led by Agrima Wadhwa; Textile Designer from National Institute of Fashion Technology, highly known for her sustainable practices in art. Learn the unique technique behind the art of Shibori on a piece of cotton fabric and create varicoloured patterns on the cloth produced by repeated tying and dipping method using bold, evocative blue colour dye.

Timing - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Number of participants – 30

Walkthrough around Textile with Bindu Manchanda

Walkthrough & interactive conversation around the textile archives of the National Crafts Museum with Bindu Manchanda. Author, Forts and Palaces of India, Jaisalmer, Heritage Conservation at INTACH. Founding Trustee - The Partition Museum

Timing - 5:00 pm

Vishesh Vinyasa with Mini Shastri

Immerse yourself in yoga & pranayam with the setting Sun amongst sculptures with Mini Shashtri, Om Yogashala

Timing - 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Number of Participants - 30

Day 2 - Saturday, 29th April 2023

Eco Botanical Printing

Discover the exciting technique behind the craftsmanship of the Eco Printing art, led by Agrima Wadhwa, a Textile Designer from National Institute of Fashion Technology, known for her sustainable practices in art. Learn to print foraged leaves and flowers on to fabric, an incredible approach that records the unique signature of foliage on cloth, creating a lasting record of a time and place.

Timing - 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Number of participants – 30

Personalised Block Making and Printing

Rubber stamp making and printing workshops can be a valuable resource in the context of traditional block printing because they enable the creation of intricate and precise designs on a smaller scale.

Participants in a rubber stamp making and printing workshop can learn how to design their own stamps, carve the rubber, and use the stamps to create prints on various surfaces. They can also learn about the various types of ink and printing techniques used to achieve various effects.

Timing - 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm

Number of participants – 30

Punch Embroidery

Learn the magnificent art of Punch needle; an ancient form of embroidery art, led by Meghavi Sharma, a Graphic designer and animator, who conducts embroidery, Fashion and Functional crafting workshops. Discover the fundamentals of the remarkable craft and get an insight into the world of the Punch Needle handicraft and design your own highly textured art decor or a coaster to bring home

Timing - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Number of participants – 30

Explore the History and Cultural significance of Telia Rumal and IKAT

Walkthrough & interactive conversation on Telia Rumal and IKAT with leading fashion Designers David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore

Timing - 5:00 pm to 6:00pm