MAP Academy introduces a course on textiles from India

MAP Academy, a wing of the Bengaluru-based Museum of Arts and Photography, is offering an interesting course on textiles from the Indian subcontinent.

This short course, which is also free of cost, is designed for anyone who is curious about India’s textile heritage. The lessons include a series of engaging videos and illustrated texts that provide insights into processes of textile production, trace their historical trajectories and examine the place of textile traditions within broader visual cultures through other art forms such as paintings, drawings and photographs. Participants will traverse a long stretch of time from the premodern period to the contemporary moment, adopting a thematic approach to an expansive history.

What you’ll learn:

1. Basic terms, techniques, styles, motifs and functions associated with textiles from the subcontinent.
2. Gain understanding of the vast networks of trade, cultural exchange and influence tethered to the histories and development of South Asian textiles.
3. Recognise the intimate relationships that textile-making communities of artisans, who belong to centuries-long lineages, have with their work.
4. Develop a wider appreciation for the legacies of textile techniques and traditions that continue to inspire contemporary designers and visual artists.

This course is open to everyone - from school and college students, fashion enthusiasts or just someone who’s interested in Indian textiles. No prior knowledge of art history or textile studies is required.

Since the course is for free, one can sign up at their own leisure and work through it at their own pace. Ideally it should take one anywhere between three to three-and-a-half hours to complete it.

This course is divided into seven lessons that comprise a number of topics presented in the form of short videos, or illustrated texts. You are required to go through these in sequential order, and must complete a quiz at the end of each to check your progress and continue. At any point, you are welcome to participate in the discussion forum, where you can meet and engage with a community of online learners and textile enthusiasts, to share further insights, or ask any questions.

Once you have registered, you can either click the “Start” button at the top of this page, or the first lesson, “Histories, Identities and Innovations” below to begin. Using your login credentials, you should be able to re-enter the course at any point through your computer, phone or tablet, and continue from where you left off.