Extending Metaphors
Romance of the unstitched cloth – concept

The Indian romance with the unstitched cloth be it in the form of the sari, pugree, dhoti, dupatta, chador, shawl has endured over centuries and has been honed to perfection in its creation and wearing. Enthusiasts go so far as to declare that there are as many ways of wearing and creating unstitched cloth as there are wearers! That may not be as far fetched as it sounds when one explores the history of Indian textiles.
Paying homage to the Indian craftsmen who are the original designers of sarees as they were created in all their glorious splendor and regional variations are artist Alka Raghuvanshi, designers Nidhi and Vaishali Jain as they seamlessly amalgamate art, craft and design together in an spectacular interplay of colour and form. The nameless artisan provides the canvas – fabrics in a myriad silks from various states across the country woven to perfection over which paintings have been digitally recreated and highlighted.
In this convergence of art, contemporary design, textile traditions, the journey of exploring contemporary aesthetic reality, the artist and designers play a distinctive role wherein creative impulses going beyond the conventional art forms are welcomed and supported. In this case, combining art with contemporary design, is indicative and representative of modern aesthetics that as much define the maturity of a people as art.
The handloom sector in India employs about 40 million people and the unstitched garment is as much a part of the cultural fabric as it is a part of the attire of a people. Poets and musicians have written and sung paeans about cloth and its weaving for centuries – the most remarkable being Nirgun bhajans by the saint poet Kabir and the sensual poetry of the Purab ang. The spectacular show will play musical compositions through the evening that capture the buoyant mood of the creators of saris from across the country.
Scope of show
The event has been conceptualized by senior art curator and artist Dr Alka Raghuvanshi. Her palette is vibrant as it is sparkling. The paintings are marked by a fluidity of movement and a gossamer fragility that runs through her work that captures the depth of the ocean and the freedom of the sky in its expanse. The complex interplay of the unusual colour spectrum is effervescent as it is feminine. The paintings explore textures that are reminiscent of the jaalis of Mughal architecture with a whiff of Indian miniature paintings in Alka’s own idiom.
The stunning paintings have been translated into fabulous saris by the designer duo Nidhi – Vaishali Jain. The designers are inspired by the timeless drape and have constantly attempted to contemporize the sari, making it more acceptable for the new age urban Indian woman. As designers their passion that the sari should remain an integral part of the Indian woman’s wardrobe has led them on an fascinating journey where their sari’s uncluttered grace yet sensuous ripples have the conviction to declare its presence with strength and holds its own in the world of contemporary fashion.
The documentation proposed to be published will capture the paintings and the saris adorned by women of substance. The following women will be walking the ramp as a special segment to showcase the art saris:
· Sharon Lowen
· Anjolie Ela Menon
· Nupur Kundu
· Jaya Jaitly
· Sushma Seth
· Prathibha Prahlad
· Shovana Narayan

Details of show, venue
The event will be an evening of fusion of art, fashion and music. The paintings will be displayed along with the saris on highlighting the connect. The defining moment of the evening will be these women of substance wearing the art sarees as the grand finale of the show. Hindustani classical music relating to the weaving of cloth and patterns will be played through the evening.
The Claridges is the venue for the show, date December 3, 2009.