Handicrafts of India

अभिनन्दन from Gaatha

Gaatha project was originally conjured only for researching and documenting the rapid erosion of Indian craft clusters and heritage. However, we soon learnt from the artisans themselves that need was not to do research alone, but to restore ‘pride and serious commercial opportunity’ in their ecosystem. Today Gaatha thus aims to bring the lost respect and wealth back to these beautiful and aesthetically rich Indian handicraft clusters. These researches are important because just like Industrial goods sell on ‘features’, crafts sell on the processes / stories / heritage that go into making them.

We should give crafts a fair chance, someone is right now merrily making something for us, singing a folk song, in a humble house, deep inside India.

Buy: Indian Handicrafts Online
Research & Archive: Indian Crafts

Gaatha Indian craft PHILOSOPHY

शिल्प कला ~ रोज़ाना में काम आने वाली केवल एक वस्तु नही, बल्कि शिल्पकारो के खरे हाथो से जन्म लिया एक साधारण पदार्थ है, जो हमारी सभ्ययता के सभ्य हॊने का प्रतीक है

हमारा शिल्प, हमारे समाज के साथ, कई विचार, विश्वास और विज्ञान लिए विकसित हुआ है । इन विचारो और कहानियो को जाने बिना इन वस्तुओं को सराहना या महसूस करना मुस्किल है। ये कहानियाँ ना केवल शिल्प को सराहने मै सहयोग करती है, बल्कि हमारे सामने एक सादगीपूर्ण एवं आकर्षक जीवन का उदाहरण भी प्रस्तुत करती है । शिल्पकारी सदियों से हमारे समाज मे लोगो के व्यवसाय का म्हत्वपूर्ण अंग रहा है, परन्तु औधोगिकीकरण, मशीनों के सस्ते और जल्दी मिर्माण ने इस व्यवस्था पे महत्वपूर्ण प्रभाव डाला है ।

गाथा योजना के तहत हम इन खूबसूरत वस्तुओ को एक वस्तु की तरह नहीं बल्कि, इनके महत्त्व और मीठी कहानियो के साथ पहचान दिलाना चाहते है। हम ना केवल इन वस्तुऒ का व्यापार, बल्कि इनके कलाकारों एवं पसंद करने वालो के बीच एक रिश्ता एवं बातचीत शरू करना चाहते है जिससे समाज मे सभी साथ मे कदम मिलाकर विकास कर सके ।

अन्तत:…हम अंधरे मै छिपे इन कलाकारों के चेहरो को एक पहचान देना चाहते है ।

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Handicraft ~ The act of ‘hand-crafting’ an object to suffice a daily chore; to pacify a need of faith; as an artistic expression; or perhaps to hone the dexterity of a pair of hands. This act of ‘crafting’ is but the most potent proof of the ‘civil-ness’ within any civilization. The ancient act of crafting almost always is a reflection of the times… and sometimes is powerful enough to make time itself its reflection.

Deep within its bowels, a craft holds dear the myths, legends, and faiths that lent it its form, these stories desperately need to be shared with the onlooking audience. These stories not only help the onlooker appreciate the craft righteously but also offer many a lessons in humble living. It’s the transfer of this value-system more than the craft itself, which is the objective of the ‘Gaatha’ project.

Handicrafts have weathered many a storms at the hands of increased industrialization and overall paradigm shifts in the crafts’ production and consumption ecosystem. The global consumer now slowly wakes to the actual ecological price that the increasingly mechanized and plastic-addicted industries entail. They are more willing now than ever before to hear and pay heed to the tales of craft.

The ‘Gaatha’ project was conjured to play that key role of storytelling, and therewith bringing social and commercial benefits to the artisan settlements. We desire to become the instrument though which the artisans can directly connect with the global audience, we desire to be the resource which helps craft sell not as objects but stories and ideologies. We are vying to make not just ‘sales‘ but ‘dialogues’ between the craftsmen and their patrons, encouraging ‘co-creation’ possibilities and a collective growth. We are committed to keeping all the good practices intact and all processes humane, just andecologically balanced.

ABOVE ALL, WE WANT TO IDENTIFY AND RECOGNIZE THE FACELESS ARTISAN.

 

Reopen dialogue & Educate masses
Bring handicrafts back to public memory and debate,such that they remain a part of policy making.

Sell handcrafted produce
Bring business and opportunities to craftsmen and improve their financial situation.

See Beyond the artifact
Tell the tales, traditions and process associated with the craft.

Research and Archive
Build an ultimate online self & people sourced knowledge resource for crafts. A resource that is only partially monitored.

Co-create with buyer and artisan
Highlight utility and malleability of craft to create contemporary artifacts/experiences. Help the artisan create modern day relevant designs, a combination of contemporary and ethnic

Maintain Transparency
Keep all the good practices intact and all processes humane, just and ecologically balanced with regular disclosures.

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