NEWS / ANNOUNCEMENTS

This section features info on events / workshops organised by various insitutions.
indian-heritage.org has featured the information as received from the concerned organisation / individual
Please contact them directly for further information

2020

Exhibition at Gallery Art Motif, 'The Art of Hand Painted Textiles' by Ajit Kumar Das
19th January 2020 - 15th February 2020
Days & Time : Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
open on Sunday, 2nd February, 2020.
Venue: Gallery Art Motif, A1-178, Safdarjang Enclave, 4th Floor




THE ART OF HAND PAINTED TEXTILES By Ajit Kumar Das
The work of Ajit Kumar Das spans four decades of explorations in textiles. This oeuvre ranges from painting with the use of a kalam or bamboo reed, block printing to natural dyeing; from expressively intricate botanical drawings, animals and birds, to abstract forms with a bold use of colour and calligraphy. Together, they can be seen as part of long traditions of painted and printed textile arts from the Indian subcontinent over several centuries. Das picks up various strands from their diverse repertoires, simultaneously however, evolving a distinct vocabulary quite his own.

This selection of hand painted works represent Das’ long engagement with flora and fauna, which began as an artist at the Weavers Service Centres, established by the Government of India in the early decades of independence. It was through here that Das came to learn from among the most accomplished textile experts and artists in the country; the natural dye master C Chandramouli, the educator K G Subramanyam and the curator Martand Singh, among others. It was also from here that he became involved with commissions for Vishwakarma, a landmark series of textile exhibitions from the late 1970s to early 90s.

 Das is one of the few from the group of artists involved with the Weavers Service Centres, who upon retirement, went onto develop an independent artistic practise in textiles. Since then, he has exhibited widely, and his works have been acquired by important private and institutional collections in India and abroad. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, he has lead workshops on natural dyeing and regularly mentors students and the next generation of artists. Das’ practise is particularly noteworthy for extending the understanding of Kalamkari — conventionally associated with painting using a kalam or bamboo reed and natural dyes in Andhra Pradesh - beyond its community-oriented, regional identity, as an individual art form in its own right.

About Ajit Kumar Das
Ajit Kumar Das is a renowned master of natural dyes using the traditional ‘kalam’ (a hand crafted bamboo reed).

Born in 1957 in a family of dyers and washerfolk in Tripura, he has been inspired and encouraged by artist Riten Mazumdar, textile revivalist the late  Martand Singh, Ajrakh legend Dr. Ismail Mohamed Khatri, Kalamkari expert Padmasree Sri Gurappa Chetty, Tansukh Mahicha, K. Rajavelu, Goutam Vaghela, and K.V Chandramouli.

A recipient of the Government of India's National Award in 1987, his works have been exhibited in India and abroad, including the significant  Vishwakarma series of exhibitions conceptualised and held by the Late Martand Singh in London in the 1980s, and are a part of  important institutional and private collections around the world, including the permanent collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the Crafts Museum, Delhi, the Royal Ontario Museum,Canada; the World Bank, New York; UNDP, Delhi.
After retiring from his extensive service at the Weavers' Service Centre, he has devoted himself to the study and usage of natural dyes.