It’s a unique expression of pain, fear, sorrow and hope — emotions they lived through on January 26, 2001 when earthquake rocked Kutch. Using different mediums and skills that they inherited from their ancestors, these artisans have showcased how they perceived the temblor. Personifying their tales of survival and dreams of the future, their creations are currently on display at Resurgence — an exhibition of textiles — at the Centre for Environment Education (CEE).
Mainly, the artisans have used the medium of silk and raw wool, coloured with vegetable dyes and ornamented with various styles of Kutchi embroidery. Using rogan painting on silk, Abdulgafur Daud of Nirona village has depicted different phases of the quake. Destruction in the form of broken monuments, mothers looking for children and relief tents can be seen in his work.
The exhibition displays 22 creations, designed by several artisans and their families. Many of these artisans had lost their source of income, houses and even family members in the quake.
Dharamshi Maheswari of Ningal village has used a single silk patola to create a chattri — a traditional pattern of the district. ‘‘We draw strength from our tradition, which is evident in patterns found on chattris, carved memorials of old rulers. The chattris are in ruins now. But the traditional patterns are intact,’’ explains Maheswari.
Ali Mohammad Isha from Bhuj has created used bandhini (art of tie-and-dye) on silk to create patterns in black, red and white. ‘‘Black represents deep sorrow, white is how we explain sorrow to each other and red is the colour of life and hope,’’ he explains.
Using Ari embroidery on silk, Adam Sangar created ‘Pain Of The Roses.’ The creation depicts Kutch as a rose in the desert before the earthquake and how devastation changed life there.
Resurgence is an initiative of Sydney-based artist Carole Gouglas, who is also co-ordinator at CEE, Australia.
Gouglas worked extensively with the artisans, NGOs and other co-operative groups to put together an exhibition that provides a platform for artisans to sketch their feelings and portray their talent.
Inaugurated by Ela Bhatt of SEWA on Sunday evening, the exhibition will go on till January 28. It has been jointly organised by National Institute of Design, Khamir — an initiative for Kutch craft, heritage and environment and CEE.
The exhibition was first held in Australia, and CEE authorities are trying to organise shows across the world now. The aim is to boost the badly hit textile industry of Kutch.