‘Made in India. Samskara’ exhibition showcased furniture and tableware, textiles and jewels that revealed an imaginative reinterpretation of traditional craft skills by contemporary Indian designers. A range of pieces by twenty three designers were installed in the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi, in a bespoke space created by the architect Anupama Kundoo.
“Each of the designers is unique in his own sense; each one has an acute feeling of their aesthetic heritage, and they all have shown a remarkable ability to transform the rich heritage of local handicrafts to a contemporary reality. What they are creating is not meant for museums; their works are not static exhibits; they are vigorous with life and reveal exciting, new ways of working. They fit perfectly into our everyday, modern lives and enhance our environment,” commented Elena Baturina.
BE OPEN discovered such a rich variety of handicrafts being practiced in India today and, wanting to make the case for keeping the full gamut of skills alive, we decided to showcase a broad range of work. The designers demonstrated how the skills that have been handed down from generation to generation can be, and in some cases are already being, adapted and reinvigorated for the contemporary world. Nothing was for sale, but the works were presented complete with logo, labels, tags and shopping bags all reflecting contemporary design.
