Somaiya Kala Vidya Celebrates Artisan Designers with NAVRASA by Design Craft

To showcase unique handmade designs crafted by artisans of Kutch expressing emotions through Art 

Somaiya Kala Vidya, a leading institution renowned for its commitment to art and education, is set to host a unique event, NAVRASA, at The Vintage Garden from March 1st to March 3rd, 2024. Organized as part of Design Craft, the social enterprise for the artisan designer graduates of Somaiya Kala Vidya, NAVRASA promises to be an unforgettable celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and culture.

With a focus on supporting artisan designers and showcasing their exceptional talents, NAVRASA will feature the works of 8 remarkable artisan designers who have mastered their craft. These artisans who have graduated from Somaiya Kala Vidya will come together to display their creations, offering attendees a glimpse into the rich tapestry of India’s artistic heritage.

Attendees can expect a diverse range of offerings at NAVRASA-9 emotional stages through various textile crafts, including Bandhani, Budding tie-dye, Suf embroidery, Rabari Embroidery, and Weaving. Each piece tells a story, reflecting the unique vision and skill of its creator. Whether you’re a seasoned art enthusiast or simply curious to explore, NAVRASA promises something for everyone.

The purpose of this event is to provide a platform for recent graduates of Somaiya Kala Vidya to showcase a curation of their products and to build an appreciative market for artisan designers and their work. 

Amrita Somaiya, Director, of Design Craft says, “At Somaiya Kala Vidya, we provide a conducive space for artisans to become designers again, to understand and regain their true potential. They define their target markets, build collections based on concepts and international trend forecasts, and experiment with design and colors, never forgetting their traditional foundation and roots. Design Craft acts as a platform for the artisan designers graduating from SKV, providing them direct access to clients who will appreciate and value the ingenuity of these artisan designers. With endeavors like these, the younger generations are getting back to their traditional crafts and adding to the cultural economy of our country”

Aradhana Nagpal, Curator of Navrasa says  “While education forms the basis of this transformation of artisan to artisan-designer, the entire approach to this show is about bringing this conversation to a larger audience through creatively curated experiences that educate the audience about what goes into the making of these handmade creations, and how important it is to acknowledge the artisan-designer who keeps his tradition relevant even today.  Navrasa will also feature demonstrations and presentations by all the 8 artisan-designers who will speak about their craft, what inspired their collection in Navrasa, and their design process“

The exhibition will be preceded by a special invite-only showcase on 29 February 2024 where special guests like Payal Singhal, Shibani Akhtar, Roshni Chopra, Maria Goretti, Shruti Seth, Mini Mathur, Srila Chatterjee, Aparna Badlani and Neil Bhoopalam will walk the ramp and all the 8 artisan-designer collections will be featured.  The exhibition will be open to all from 1st to 3rd March 2024.