The ME to WE, at "A hundred hands" exhibition !

An Art and handicraft lover like me always gets spoilt for choices in a city like Bombay that is known for its exuberant Art scene.

One notable exhibition I recently attended was the second edition of “A hundred hands”; an NGO from Banglore, a handmade collective, that provides a platform for handicraft artists and educates them in enhancing their products and encourage them to understand contemporary styles and compete with global products. 

Indian handicrafts is a very vast realm when it comes to writing about it! Millions of Indians still depend on indigenous modes of production, traditional skills and techniques to make a living based on handmade products. 

Traditional handicrafts are unique expressions of a culture or community through local craftsmanship and materials. With increased globalization however, products are becoming more and more commercialized and artisans find their products competing with goods from all over the world and that is precisely the reason, NGOs like "A hundred hands" play a major role in helping the artist carry forward legacy of their land and its culture, myth, and religion in their art practices. 

Traditional arts define the true identity of a civilization. In India, handicraft and its artisans were highly regarded and duly rewarded until the outbreak of 19th-century industrialization. Unfortunately, one of the challenges the Indian handicraft industry faces today is that our markets do not recognize the true value of craft and this trend has led a large number of artisans to move to urban centers in search of low, unskilled employment. While crafts received royal and aristocratic patronage during pre-independence days, the sector presently carries the stigma of inferiority and backwardness and is viewed as decorative, peripheral, and elitist despite being the second-largest source of employment!

"From me to we" is an initiative of"A hundred hands" that provides a boost to hundreds of artisans by building a network of artisans, empowering, encouraging, and helping them sustain the revival of their crafts without losing its ethos. 

Here are some snippets from the exhibition that showcased stunningly beautiful art with its complex, colorful, simple yet captivating raw charm and the immensely gifted artists who were such delight to meet with! 

Wooden blocks used for traditional block printing 

Block printed newspapers that can be used as gift packs or book covers! 

Bags made from recycled denims; cool, contemporary and recycled 

Mustak, third generation from the renowned Khatri family associated with dying art of "Ajarakh" 

The ancient Art form Sanjhi from Mathura 

National (president) award winner, Patta chitra Artist Akshaya Kumar Bariki, showcasing his work and singing folk songs that narrate story of the painting! 

Bags made with banana fibres

Nandan and his colleague from Aarohana keenly show the presentation on laptop on how plastic is dangerous for environment

Artistic combs made with ebony wood

Necklace made with lacquer  

Card holders made with tyre tubes