Kalaangan Exhibition, Bhau Daji Lad museum
Date: May 2024
A celebration exhibition in BDL Museum Plaza, KALAANGAN showcased and supported over 40 traditional and contemporary styles of craftsmanship and design from across the country. This 3-day art and design festival featured a diverse array of handmade products including textiles, accessories, jewellery, and home decor for sale. Visitors also got the chance to engage with the artisans from across India who persist in their craft amidst a changing world dominated by machine-made goods. From exploring the impact of pop culture on Pattachitra art to participating in various craft workshops, there's something for everyone to enjoy! The festival is presented by Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum in collaboration with EkiBeki
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Letting the artisans know we see them- a celebration video
Impact of the exhibition
72 artisans
Rs. 18 lakhs revenue generated
60 crafts supported
What was in store
The 2024 summer, we joined at the BDL Museum Plaza for a special festival, KALAANGAN, which showcased and supported Indian artisans!
Representing over 40 traditional and contemporary styles of craftsmanship and design from across the country, this 3-day art and design festival featured a diverse array of handmade products, including textiles, accessories, jewellery, and home decor for sale.
Visitors engaged with artisans from across India who persisted in their craft amidst a changing world dominated by machine-made goods. From exploring the impact of pop culture on Pattachitra art to participating in various craft workshops, there was something for everyone to enjoy!
The festival was presented by the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum in collaboration with EkiBeki.
Venue map
Three days of excitement, were filled with -
Workshops-
Gond painting workshop
Sholapith Flower Workshop
Sanjhi Art Workshop
Sohrai Painting Workshop
and many more throughout the days. On the theme of creating a "human library", these workshops followed the EkIBeki style of interactions, learning the history of the art and skills that have been handed down generations, its place in the fabric of our stories. More than just an art workshop, it is a chance to hear the stories first hand from those who live the history every day.
Shopping bonanza
Saanjhi
Rogan
Sholapith
Kutchi Copper Bells
Bhill painting
And more...
Live performances
Live performances were held, including a talk by Yosha Gupta on technology and social media as catalysts for crafts.
There was an oral storytelling session, along with a live Chitrakathi performance. Visitors also experienced a live demonstration of Mallakhamb, the traditional sport combining aerial yoga, gymnastics, and wrestling, performed by a troupe trained by Padma Shri award winner Sri Uday Deshpande.
Demonstrations were conducted across various stalls, including Rogan oil painting, the making of copper bells and mobiles, Gond painting, and much more.
Attendees were encouraged to stay updated with details and time slots so they could plan their day and not miss out on these exciting experiences.
In conversation: Yosha Gupta
Pattachitra Showcases
Live Chitrakathi performance
Mallakhamb
Rogan Showcase
Gond Painting Workshop
Sholapith Flower Showcase
Chitrakathi Puppetry
About Kalaangan
Most of us are familiar with Renaissance painters, much more than ethnic Indian art and handcrafted!! As a step towards bringing back the pride in our handcrafted splendor, we present Kalaangan. A journey of exploring Indian history through our ethnic art forms.
Community engagement
Through partnerships with local organizations, educational institutions, and social initiatives, the festival seeks to enrich the lives of visitors and create lasting memories as a family.
About the organisers
The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum is Mumbai’s first museum, established in 1857, and is the erstwhile Victoria and Albert Museum, Bombay. The Museum was built to showcase the city’s contemporary art and craftsmanship through a rare collection of fine and decorative arts of India. The Museum’s robust exhibition and outreach programme invites artists to engage with these collections and archives and interrogate its founding principles. Know more here
EkiBeki is not for profit organization dedicated to preserving, sustaining and growing the dying crafts of India. Our aim is to revive the folk arts and crafts of India, help generate sustainable livelihoods for artisans and help the artisans grow the community craft clusters in their natural habitat.
