Rare handicrafts dazzle at expo

By Deccan Herald 

Bangaloreans can witness some of the lesser known art and craft forms from across the country at the Handicrafts Expo being held at Government Pre-University College Ground, 18th Cross, Malleswaram, till January 19.

Artisans and craftpersons have come from faraway places like Uttaranchal, Bihar and the North-East, displaying crafts which are not generally seen in Bangalore. Life-like animals such as horses and giraffes crafted from leather are a speciality of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. The sizes range from the miniature horses to the life-sized giraffe and are a treat just to watch.

You may be aware of the famous Sholapur cotton handloom bedsheets from Maharashtra, but a lesser known craft – colourful wall hangings woven from cotton threads, which is also displayed.
Did you know that the Madhubani painting technique can be used to paint an entire silk saree using fabric paint? Saroj Kumar Jha, a Madhubani painter has done this and took 15 days to do it. “Madhubani painters paint spontaneously. No two Madhubani art pieces are the same,” he says.

Neeru Shah from Nainital in Uttaranchal is displaying a rare variety of craft made from fruits of the pine, dried and arranged to make interesting decorations. She also has on display a regional variety of rangoli adopted and modified into wall-hangings. Silk cocoon craft by Bimla Gupta manifests itself in greeting cards and wall hangings and other miniature craft items.

Clothes hangers, flower vases, mugs – all form part of the bamboo craft from Kushalnagar in Kodagu district. “We get the bamboo from the Forest Department,” says Vasanth, who is marketing the product.

Bhavani Shankari makes traditional wire dolls with ethnic looks. You can buy an individual doll or a wedding set with several dolls.

State-awardee Annappa K Acharya is displaying his Hoysala and Chalukya style carvings in grey hard soapstone and in wood. “The grey soapstone, sourced from H D Kote, is heavier than granite but it is easier for carving. The black soapstone is sourced from Karkala in Udupi district,” he explains.

The myriad and colourful craft varieties encompass the best of Indian craft traditions. They include Dhokra castings, stone carvings, palm leaf engraving and applique work from Orissa; carpets, dhurries, Mithila paintings, tribal jewellery, lac craft of Bihar; Woollen carpets, kantha work of West Bengal, cane, bamboo and terracotta craft of north eastern states; woollen shawls, papier mache from Rajasthan; colourful embroidered shawls from Jammu and Kashmir; Kalamkari paintings, croquet lace and enamel-painted Kondapalli toys of Andhra Pradesh; sandalwood carvings, wood inlay, Bidriware and jute craft from Karnataka; stone carvings, wood carvings and Korai grass mats from Tamil Nadu; rosewood craft and natural fibre craft of Kerala.

According to P Mallikarjunaiah, the deputy director (technical), Office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), “The Handicraft Expo is intended to be a direct link between the artisans and the art and craft lovers.” It has been organised by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Union Ministry of Textiles, in association with Kerala Artisans Development Corporation Ltd.