Artists collaborate with factory weavers for new show

Eleven city-based artists have teamed up with factory weavers from Panipat to fashion installations, photographs, video and sound art among other artworks that puts the spotlight on weaving traditions that are facing extinction in the era of machine products.
The artists spent almost a year working in tandem with weavers and master craftsmen at the Panipat-based Raj Group, said to be one of the oldest home furnishing exporters in the area, to fashion products to be exhibited in an upcoming exhibition "Fibre Fables" beginning here on November 21.
Shailin Smith who has curated the show says, "All the artists have been traveling to Panipat and working in the factory along with weavers and master craftsmen since December last year. Each art work has been created using the techniques involved in the weaving industry such as tufting, braiding, kilim and pitloom weaving to name a few.

"Through this creative process, each artist has gained an insight into many new techniques that they hope to use in future as well, while the weavers have begun to look at their daily mechanical chores with a new, respectful gaze, as something that can be used to create a piece of art."
The idea for the project germinated from an exhibition conducted in July last year to commemorate 75 years of the Raj Group where fibre art pieces designed by the company's team and created by the weavers were displayed.
Post the show Sumeet Nath, the company's MD decided to offer contemporary artists, photographers and designers a platform to work at the factory.

"As an industry that survives on the art of weaving, it is imperative to find a way to create tangible memories from a tradition that may cease to exist in the future. And while we pride ourselves as being at the centre of where it all happens, Panipat, it was important for us to find the right channel to communicate our concern. What better way, than art," says Nath.
The participating artists include Abeer Gupta, Brahm Maira, Dhvani Behl, Durga Kainthola, Nidhi Khurana, Nikheel Apahle, Puneet Kaushik, Sahaya Sharma, Sandeep Biswas, Shivani Aggarwal and Vibhu Galhotra.
The show is set to go on till December 31 at the Stainless Art Gallery here.