In tracing the histories of textile production, we encounter a turning point in the 18th century, when the Industrial Revolution impacted the production of handmade textiles.
Do you have a lucky outfit, or a favourite accessory that you always wear when you have to take an exam, appear for an important interview or participate in a competition? You’re not alone!
Across daily life as well as festive occasions in the Indian subcontinent, we see the prominent use of forms of clothing that date back thousands of years.
Have you ever found yourself pulling loose ends of threads from your clothes? Not only do threads like these construct textiles, but the seemingly ordinary materials they are made of are embedded in deep histories.
Visual artists from South Asia engage with materials, processes and histories associated with textiles to produce works that can provoke deeper considerations of the medium.
Have you ever looked at a piece of cloth and wondered how its design came to be? Most patterns and motifs we see on many textiles today have far reaching histories that transcend geographic boundaries.
India’s fight for independence from the British was a long struggle in which textile practices played a central part. Closely linked to the formation of the country as we know it today, these are still seen as symbols of resistance and sovereignty.