Visual artist and designer Shohini Gupta exhibited her work at a two-day exhibition, titled ‘Patchwork Tales’ at The Z’s Precinct on December 8 and 9. The exhibition showcased her drawings, tapestry, jewellery, home decor items and more — and also Shohini’s unique take on ‘kantha’. “For the last decade or so I have been creating upcycled handmade products and I have thoroughly enjoyed it,” opined the artist about her work and her decade-long career
Photos: Soumyajit Dey
(L) The exhibition started with Shohini lighting the lamp. Joining her were artist Elina Banik, filmmaker Nandita Roy, designer Swaroop Dutta and entrepreneurs Amrita Ghosh and Utsha Das. Shohini looked resplendent in a white coord set, with golden mojri and a green and brown neckpiece. The necklace was a special one, made of upcycled cloth with fine threadwork on them. (R) Her exhibition was also attended by clinical psychologist Ratnabali Ray
Vibrant colours and abstract motifs stand out as key elements in Shohini’s artwork. This multipurpose upcycled ‘kantha’ piece, crafted from hand-stitched fabrics and saris, can serve as both home decor and a cosy throw. The artist intentionally keeps her works versatile, leaving room for audience interpretation. Shohini’s aesthetic juxtaposes minimalism with the richness of hues, creating an interesting contrast in many of her pieces
Shohini’s jewellery has a unique charm. Crafted from upcycled fabric, each piece is meticulously hand-stitched and often limited edition. Replicating a piece is a challenge for her as each design is curated after hands-on exploration with the material. The exhibition also celebrated the debut of her new label, ‘Mela by Shohini’
A touch of Africa too has found place in Shohini’s works. The hand-stitched tapestry work, incorporating diverse materials and featuring frayed edges, imparts a vintage charm to the artwork. The combination of white, interwoven with patches of beige, off-white, orange, red, or black, results in a visually appealing piece. The coexistence of mismatched fabrics makes one introspect on the myriad diversities around us and the unity they collectively represent
From her collection, Ragamuffin, these creations take the form of toy monsters, reflecting Shohini’s commitment to creating imaginative toys for children. While currently featured in designer Swarup Dutta’s personal collection, Shohini envisions creating additional variations of these whimsical characters in the future
Not just tapestry, Shohini, a Kala Bhavana (Santiniketan) graduate, has showcased her proficiency as an artist. In addition to her intricate fabric creations, she presented her pen sketches during the exhibition, garnering praise from attendees. Shohini said, “My drawings do not always relate to the fabric works that I make. This is almost like another parallel to my fabric art practice. I like telling stories and I love the works by Lewis Carroll and Sukumar Ray,” she said
Over the years, Shohini has dedicated her focus to crafting jewellery, earning acclaim in the field. However, the multi-faceted artist is inclined to explore and showcase other sides of her artistic pursuits. Upcycling fabric and reducing carbon footprint serve as focal points in the artist’s work. While the exhibition featured her recent creations, the ‘Mycelium’ series stands out as a current focal point in her body of work
