The run-up to Durga Puja this year has taken on added excitement — CIMA’s premier arts and lifestyle exhibition, Art in Life, will be open till October 20, offering the unending beauty of Indian handicrafts and textiles to visitors and art enthusiasts. From saris, dress materials and sculptures to jewellery, bags, accessories and home decor, Art in Life has something for everyone, be they first-time buyers or seasoned collectors.
And with Kolkata being such a big part of their lives, it was only apt that the consuls-general of Germany, France and China — Manfred Auster, Didier Talpain and Zha Liyou — tell My Kolkata what their visits to Art in Life showed them. When asked what stood out to them as they browsed through the extensive collection of textiles and crafts on display, all three gentlemen had different, and interesting answers.
Manfred Auster, consul-general of Germany in Kolkata, points out the intricacies of the carvings on an exquisitely crafted tribal mask displayed at CIMA
“The consulate general of Germany in Kolkata has always been committed to supporting practices and local projects that would revive the traditional crafts of Bengal and, indeed, India,” said Manfred Auster. “Kolkata is very correctly known as the cultural capital of India, and is often the place where the artistic legacy of the nation is best reflected. The collection on display here at CIMA is truly impressive!”
When asked to point out a few items on display that caught his eye, Auster first highlighted an exquisitely crafted wooden tribal mask; what stood out to him were the detailed carvings of human figurines and wildlife on a face mask. “Apart from the level of skill taken to create something like this, this piece indicates a sort of artistic vision that can incorporate so many different elements of this planet and the natural world into one work of art,” he said. The other piece that he really liked was a work of kantha embroidery by the label, Kantha by Mahua Lahiri, which had a pictorial depiction of Lord Krishna in its threadwork. “The beauty and intricacy of the work are remarkable, and the culturally relevant inclusion of the beloved deity adds a special touch to this work,” he added.
Didier Talpain, consul-general of France in Kolkata, admires the soft hues of a sari designed by Sampa Das
What about Didier Talpain? The consul-general of France in Kolkata, who is also a renowned orchestra conductor, zeroed in on two splendid pieces — one, a sari by the muga silk revivalist, Sampa Das, and the other, a quilt created with care by the Saami, a pastoral snake charmer community mostly located in Gujarat’s Kutch region.
“The usage of a beautiful muted gold on a cream, almost off-white background is what stands out to me in this sari,” said Talpain, when asked why that particular Sampa Das creation caught his eye. “We usually see gold being used against black; that is also beautiful, but a far more common combination. Apart from the craftsmanship, the colours chosen for this sari make it stand out.”
Didier Talpain takes a photo next to an intricately woven Saami quilt from India’s Kutch region
For the Saami quilt, with its gorgeous rows of decorative stitches in a variety of vibrant colours, it was the textile’s history and story that captured his attention. “I was fascinated to not only learn that these exquisite fabrics are woven by the Saami, but also that the weavers are mostly men,” he said. “That is not a common story to hear!”
Pratiti Basu Sarkar and Didier Talpain
Pratiti Basu Sarkar, chief administrator of CIMA, also shared a story about her discovery of the Saami weaving tradition when she was in the Kutch region, close to the India-Pakistan border. “We faced some vehicular trouble, and were invited to rest and wait for a while in one of the local homes,” she recalled. “When we entered, we saw these rugs with exquisite handiwork being laid out for us to sit on! When I asked our hosts what these were, I found out that these intricately crafted items are often put to common use, such as floor rugs and so on. From that moment, I was determined to highlight the stupendous artistry that goes into creating these seemingly ‘common’, regular-use textiles.”
Zha Liyou, consul-general of China in Kolkata, talks about the need for China and India to collaborate and highlight each other’s crafts traditions
Zha Liyou, consul-general of China in Kolkata, took a different path — he said he could not choose any favourites out of all the exhibits at Art in Life. “This is a difficult, almost impossible task, given all the excellence on display here at CIMA,” he said. Instead, he chose to share his vision for the future of Indian textiles, its global recognition, and the manner in which India and China can highlight and appreciate each other’s revolutionary crafts traditions. “India and China are neighbours, and we hold great influence in our region,” he said. “And just like Rakhi Sarkar [the director of CIMA] and Pratiti Basu Sarkar have meticulously and lovingly curated this stupendous collection here at CIMA, my hope is that our countries can create a flow of warmth and cultural exchange via crafts. We have it in our power to hold each other up and highlight each other’s artistic excellence!”
CIMA Art in Life will be on till October 20, from 11am to 8pm, every day.
