An exhibition is chronicling the fabric history of Bengaluru.
Urban Fabric of Bengaluru, a show curated by Suresh Jayaram and Sagar Shastri, introduces you to 19 artists who have dedicated their lives to fabric.
Bengaluru is known for its fabric industry, and the show gives you glimpses of its history of weaving, tailoring, and quilting.
The most colourful section would be the quilts made by the Siddhi community, followed by the one with saris from Vimor, closely connected with the city as the silk used is from Bengaluru.
Also exhibited are saris from Sampangirama Nagar in central Bengaluru and Himatsingka (a Bengaluru company that weaves for the foreign market).
Paintings recall Binny Mills, the history of silk weaving in Bengaluru, and the landscape of Darji Pete.
A project called Social Weavers is a collaboration of artists and craft artisans.
Lalitha Shankar, one of the artists, says, “We have two artists from Bengaluru and two from California. Metaphorically, the reason why we are using the sari is because it’s one-size-fits-all. When you unravel 336 saris, the yarn collapses the distance from Bangalore to San Francisco.”
The saris are woven in organic cotton and dyed in natural vegetable colours.
Artist Shamala Nandesha says, “We are consciously using natural dye and yarn to protect our environment, land and skin.”
The show is part of the India Foundation for the Arts project called ‘Project 560’.
Urban Fabric is an amalgamation of artists and organizations trying to create conversations, ideas and concepts about Bengaluru.
Artists
Aishwaryan K, Anita N and Girija P Siddi, Archana Hande, Jayashree Poddar, Jeevan Xavier, Lavanya Mani, Munira Diwan and Ojasvi Peshawaria, Rakhee Shenoy, Renuka Rajiv, S G Vasudev, Shamala B J and Lalitha Shankar (3rd Space lab), Shantamani Muddaiah, Smitha Cariappa, Surabhi Sharma, Surekha, Suresh Kumar G, Swetha B V, T V Tharakeshwari and Umesh Kumar P N.
The show is on at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in New Galleries. On view till March 25, 11 am to 6 pm.