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    • Design

    Reviving traditional crafts: Inside Kaash Foundation and Tara Books’ Bengaluru exhibition

    JUN 10, 2023 | By Diya Shah
    Worli artist Tushar Vayeda makes his piece titled Climber using acrylic and pen on Corten Steel; Image courtesy Kaash Foundation
    Gond artist Gareeba Singh Tekam creates his piece titled Lion's Lair; Image courtesy Kaash Foundation
    The paintings Roots, Ancestors and Hope by the Vayeda Brothers explore various interpretations of the idea of emergence; Image courtesy Kaash Foundation
    Meena artist Sunita makes her artwork titled Wonderland using acrylic paint on wood; Image courtesy Kaash Foundation
    The artwork Divine Threads by the Vayeda brothers is made using acrylic and pen on Corten Steel; Image courtesy Kaash Foundation

    As people evolve, so do their surroundings. The space we occupy now is vastly different from that of our ancestors in both its form and function. This poses a question: How do ancient crafts keep up with this whirlwind of change? Kaash Foundation explores this question and unearths new facets of established traditions in its latest exhibition titled Thinking Crafts.

    A collaboration with Tara Books, a children’s book publisher founded by Gita Wolf, the exhibition is based on traditional artwork published in their books. It also features prints and publications by the Chennai-based publishing house. 

    A unique and relatively unexplored concept, Thinking Hands is the result of a month-long residency programme. It displays a modern engagement with three different traditional art forms: Warli from Maharashtra, Gond from Madhya Pradesh and Meena from Rajasthan. The exhibition pieces are created by master artists Mayur and Tushar Vayeda, Ram Singh Urveti and Sunita that hail from these regions. 

    Gond artist Ram Singh Urveti renders the traditional motif of trees in a contemporary sensibility in this piece titled Saraitree; Image courtesy Kaash Foundation
    The Vayeda brothers use geometric shapes known to Warli art in their piece titled Palghat -The Fertility Goddess; Image courtesy Kaash Foundation

    Versatile traditions

    Each piece is a unique reconciliation of traditional values and modern design principles. While each piece is distinct and closely aligns with the artist’s sensibilities, it is held together by the common thread that ties these art forms together: an appreciation for nature and natural elements, such as animals and plants, become an anchor for the layered, interpretive narratives each work portrays. 

    The piece titled Sea Weed by the Vayeda Brothers indicates a fascination with the underwater natural world; Image courtesy Kaash Foundation

    This exhibition by Kaash Foundation is a testament to the versatility of the traditional art forms. The artists redefine these typically wall-based and location-specific art forms on various frequently used contemporary surfaces, including Corten Steel, blackboard and wood. These materials come from the earth and carry forth the theme of nature intrinsic to the art form. 

    The exhibition draws from the legacy of these art forms and combines it with the artist’s language of expression to produce a body of work that is wholly new and suitable to contemporary spaces. 

    Displayed on the wall, Gareeba Singh Tekam’s artwork reflects in a mirror placed on the floor; Image courtesy Kaash Foundation

     

    The paintings The Deep and Aqua Deep by the Vayeda brothers employ different media, namely Corten Steel and silk; Image courtesy Kaash Foundation

    The artworks are on display at the Kaash space in Bengaluru until 30th June 2023. It is open to visitors from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Tuesday to Sunday. All the artworks in the exhibit are for sale.

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