Three Delhi Exhibitions Challenge Folk Art Boundaries in 2011
In 2011, New Delhi hosted three exhibitions that examined the connection between traditional folk art and modern practices. The Artisan Design event, organized by Kala Raksha Trust and INTACH from February 23 to 27, highlighted Kutch crafts alongside modern designs, deliberately avoiding the label 'craft.' From April 7 to 9, Agha Khan Hall featured Vasant [Spring] 2011, showcasing Indybindi, a venture by three siblings inspired by folk arts, which supports the NGO Ashiana. Running from April 16 to May 7, the Folk and Tribal Arts of India exhibition at the Arts of the Earth gallery presented various traditional art forms and raised concerns about their decline. Together, these exhibitions examined the future of folk traditions within contemporary art. Founded in 1993, Kala Raksha Trust focuses on preserving traditional arts and providing design education to artisans.
Key facts
- Three exhibitions in New Delhi in 2011 explored folk art's contemporary status.
- Artisan Design ran February 23–27, 2011, organized by Kala Raksha Trust.
- Vasant [Spring] 2011 occurred April 7–9, 2011 at Agha Khan Hall.
- Folk and Tribal Arts of India was held April 16–May 7, 2011 by Arts of the Earth.
- Kala Raksha Trust began in 1993 in Kutch, Gujarat as a regional artisan initiative.
- Indybindi was a five-month-old enterprise by three sibling commercial artists.
- Arts of the Earth is a gallery branch of Art Konsult in Lado Sarai, south Delhi.
- Traditional folk painters are abandoning their practices for other livelihoods.
Entities
Institutions
- Kala Raksha Trust
- Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)
- Kala Raksha Vidyalaya (KRV)
- Indybindi
- Ashiana
- Arts of the Earth
- Art Konsult
Locations
- New Delhi
- India
- Kutch
- Gujarat
- Lado Sarai