CALICO: The special exhibition "Exhibition vol.1 | from the villages of Vankars" at the BHAVAN will start tomorrow, Wednesday January 26th.
One of the reasons we set up CALICO: the BHAVAN at the foot of Mount Wakakusa in Nara was that we wanted to invite Indian artisans and introduce them to each of their work. We felt that this location, with its ties to the continent, was the perfect place to invite people from India.
After holding the "Kutch Fabrics Exhibition" at Umeda Hankyu in 2018 and in 2019 inviting Ajurak artisans Sufiyan Ismail Khatri and Juned Ismail Khatri, we had just been discussing inviting Kutch weaver Vankar Shamji Vishram to visit in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
We would like to be able to showcase some of the work they have been working on in the form of a small special exhibition, and we would also like to introduce a variety of different works in collaboration with other exhibitions and partner galleries around the country.
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CALICO: the Exhibition vol.1
from the villages of Vankars
22.1.26 wed. -2.20 sun. 11:00-17:00 Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
In the Kutch region of western India, there are weavers called Vankars. For centuries, they have been weaving for the Rabari and Ahir communities, who are responsible for the pastoral care of the cattle. They also sometimes play music such as Santhal.
While the Vancalles of the 1970s blazed a new path for craft with their sophisticated textile works using acrylic, merino wool and synthetic dyes, today's successors have observed both rapid renewal and backlash, asking what will remain of their own identity once those waves have passed.
They studied traditional materials such as wool from native sheep breeds and traditional dyes such as lac and acacia to restore the garments to their original appearance.
We also tried our hand at creating new traditions, such as natural indigo dyeing and hand spinning and weaving of native cotton.
This exhibition will feature wool and silk shawls created by Shamji Vishram Valji, the fourth son of Vankar Valji Vishram, and his family, as well as Dayalalbhai Kudecha and his family, as well as clothing created in collaboration with CALICO.
Please also take a look at the works of Vankar and others who weave rugs called Kharad, which are made from camel, goat and sheep wool, as well as the hand-woven Kara cotton items made through the NGO Khamir.
CALICO: the Bhavan
Carico the Bhawan
491-5 Zoshicho, Nara City | 0742-87-1513
