New Delhi, March 26 An upcoming exhibition, "No 'One' Maker: Textiles as Community", aims to examine how contemporary textile practices are shaped by collectivism, shared authorship, and collaboration between indigenous makers and artists.
Scheduled to be held at Bikaner House from April 3, the exhibition uses textiles, installations, and moving images to challenge the idea of the singular creator, instead "highlighting co-creation, reciprocity, and community-led knowledge systems".
It is presented by Inherited Arts Forum – a collaboration between two contemporary art galleries, Exhibit 320 & Blueprint12 – and curated by independent curator and researcher, Sreyansi Singh.
"The exhibition unfolds across three sections, beginning with long-term collaborations between indigenous practitioners and contemporary artists, where textiles become repositories of memory, identity, and resilience," the organizers said in a statement.
While the first section highlights long-term collaborations, including the work of Siddi women with community-based art practitioner Anitha N Reddy, which documents memory, identity, and resistance; the second section focuses on indigenous practices within communities.
The first section also features Mansukh Pitambari Khatri, whose work with Morii has revitalized Bela block printing through new motifs and techniques.
"Jigmat Couture reinterprets traditional Ladakhi garments, while Hannah Khiangte presents Thembu, drawing on Mizoram's loom traditions in collaboration with local artisans," said the organizers, elaborating on the showcase in the second section.
The final section, they added, brings first-time collaborations, including Mangala Bai Marawi with designers David Abraham and Rakesh Thakore, translating tattoo motifs into textiles. Works by Harago with Bhuri Bai, and Balu Jivya Mashe with Rimzim Dadu, further explore shared making.
The exhibition will conclude on April 8.