Santati
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s transformation of a modest textile Khadi into a feeling of self-reliance and economic self-sufficiency, and Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings which influenced art, culture, beliefs, attire of India, I present to you “SANTATI” – A phenomenal display of women weavers skill and creativity through 30 exquisite pieces of textile art.
An engaging spectacle “SANTATI” is an exemplary artistic accomplishment of women weavers, features splendid handwoven recreation of the artistic legacy of renowned Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma with unbelievable accuracy of time-consuming and labour-intensive Jamdani technique on Khadi textiles. Exemplary skill, perseverance and synchronised meditative rhythmic movement of heart and hand of the weaver manifests as a woven means of expression thereby instilling life onto the surface of each displayed magnum opus. Their nimble fingers tossing the thread shuttle left to right, their legs constantly moving the multiple paddles of the traditional wooden loom, their tired eyes, fragile body, and worn-out clothes hardly deter them from weaving reputable magic.
This engaging marvel of the development of art on textiles is woven by women who had no prior weaving experience – they were daily wagers or housewives in dire straits. Patiently trained by our master weavers has successfully made them proficient on the Jamdani weaving technique to create accurately the reproduction of painting in the most imaginative, sustainable and innovative way. Challenging everyone’s skill and performance each masterpiece has taken between six months to two years to weave.
“SANTATI” - A phenomenal display of human skill and creativity; honouring the handiwork of women exclusively trained in the frequently undervalued craft of textiles.
IAAC Presents Santati - a majestic display of India’s Heritage Jamdani woven by designer Gaurang Shah
A tribute to two stalwarts of Indian history - Mahatma Gandhi, The Father of the Nation and Raja Ravi Varma, The Father of Modern Indian Arts Showcasing women weavers skill and creativity through 30 exquisite pieces of textile art
New York, September 24, 2021: The Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC) presents Santati, a majestic display of India’s Heritage Jamdani woven by designer Gaurang Shah. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s transformation of a modest textile Khadi into a feeling of self-reliance and economic self-sufficiency, and Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings which influenced art, culture, beliefs, attire of India, “Santati” is an exemplary artistic accomplishment of women weavers. It pairs the splendid handwoven recreations of the artistic legacy of renowned Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma with the unbelievable accuracy of time-consuming and labor-intensive Jamdani technique on Khadi textiles.
The project has been conceptualized by Mrs Lavina Baldota, and presented by the Abheraj Baldota Foundation, to celebrate the mellow beauty, sophistication, yet the exceptional glamour of the hand-spun, hand-woven Khadi. A first of its kind, this spectacular show recreates paintings of artist nonpareil Raja Ravi Varma on the canvas of Gandhi’s Khadi, not with a brush and paint but through intricate and complicated Jamdani hand-weave, the yarns dyed in over 600 shades of vegetable dye, presenting it as an evolving aesthetic expression of wearable art on the pallu’s of Sarees giving the guest / visitor a lasting insight into the finest interface of Indian art and Indian craft. Exemplary skill, perseverance and synchronized meditative rhythmic movement of the heart and hand of the weaver manifests as a woven means of expression thereby instilling life onto the surface of each displayed magnum opus.
This engaging marvel of the development of art on textiles is woven by women who had no prior weaving experience – they were daily wagers or housewives in dire straits. Patiently trained by the master weavers, it has successfully made them proficient on the Jamdani weaving technique to create accurately the reproduction of painting in the most imaginative, sustainable and innovative way. Challenging everyone’s skill and performance each masterpiece took between six months to two years to weave!
IAAC focuses on helping artists and arts organizations in North America as well as facilitating artists from India to exhibit, perform, and produce their work in North America. We are advocating “Santati” in the Indian heritage hand-woven textile medium, as it depicts a timeless art that amalgamates the traditional and contemporary. Talking about Santati and the idea behind the showcase, the Chairperson of IAAC, Dr Nirmal Mattoo said “Santati reflects the true spirit of Indian Weaving Heritage, and we could not have asked for anything more than this spectacular display of Jamdani weaving art, right here in New York. We want to spread the message of solidarity and create awareness of the splendor of Indian Artisanship. The IAAC supports all the artistic disciplines in classical, fusion, folk, and innovative forms influenced by the arts of India. We work cooperatively with colleagues around the United States to broaden the collective audiences and to create a network for shared information, resources, and funding. This association marks the 152nd Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He was the man who, single handedly, united the whole of India and made them a part of one of the biggest independence movements in the World.”
Lavina Baldota, custodian of the Abheraj Baldota Foundation shared, “I want to make patrons experience that Khadi is not just a humble fabric. It’s a fabric that symbolizes strength, resilience and patriotism; it speaks of struggle and perseverance. Through this exhibit I seek to glamourize Khadi, from modest to resplendent. I wish to take Khadi from being an important tool of the past, to a relevant necessity of the present, to a sought-after luxury of the future.”
On the evolution of Indian Jamdani weaving technique Mr. Gaurang Shah said, “As a designer, I have often wondered what makes Jamdani such a captivating canvas to many and me especially. After 21 years of working with weavers across India, I have found a layered answer. There is, of course, the legacy. Every piece you have seen today is my homage to the past masters who recreated Jamdani by infusing tradition with a spirit of experimentation. This spirit is perhaps also the reason why Jamdani has so many traditional forms. There is also the skill of our weavers, most of whom, who worked on this project are women. We are surrounded by masters who can weave any design, no matter how intricate, and yet, like true artists, they keep pushing their craft. However, there is something else intertwined with all this that gives real meaning and motivation to both the weaver and me. I believe Jamdani’s future is not very different from its past! In this interlace that is connected through time and timelessness, I hope you too discover the idea of Jamdani’s essence.”
The exhibit is open to the public from the 5th to the 9th of October, at Ave, 468 West Broadway, from 11am to 6:00pm. IAAC Members get an early preview of the exhibition on October 2 at an invitation only event.
About Gaurang Shah:
Taking forward India’s centuries old tradition of hand-weaving with a high degree of ingenuity and aesthetic finesse, designer Gaurang Shah, a textile crusader from India, traverses every cluster invigorating the weaving traditions of India actively engaging in design development of weaves showcasing the diverse timeless heritage on contemporary canvas. His work spreads across 16 states, engaging 800 weavers, craftspeople & others in ancillary trades in a perennial sustainable stable livelihood.
About the Indo-American Arts Council:
The Indo-American Arts Council is a not-for-profit arts organization passionately dedicated to promoting, showcasing and building an awareness of the arts and artists whose heritage lies in the Indian subcontinent in the performing arts, visual arts, literary arts and folk arts. IAAC supports all the artistic disciplines in classical, fusion, folk and innovative forms influenced by the arts of India. They work cooperatively with colleagues around the United States to broaden collective audiences and to create a network for shared information, resources and funding. The IAAC’s focus is to help artists and art organizations in North America as well as to facilitate artists from India to exhibit, perform and produce their work in the United States. www.iaac.us
Lavina Baldota
Santati is a sequence that does not break, an infinite loop, a continuum. Through his seamless, sleepless journey from Gandhi to Mahatma, this visionary radiated, imbibed and left behind messages in mind-full living, messages bare in their truth, messages that move in the concentric rings of time, holding within them the power to overturn the world.
From uniting a diverse country through non-violence to inspiring global leaders and instilling the resolve of tireless, detached action, he entered the veritable spirit of generations. Ablaze with a dream, charged with an electric intellect, carrying a mind and body deeply willing to suffer for Truth, Mahatma Gandhi is no more just a person, a philosophy, an idea. 152 years after his birth, he has merged with the soil to become a state of mind.
Santati was conceptualized by Lavina Baldota as a tribute to the Father of the Nation. A cherished patron and mentor to the arts, curator Lavina Baldota spearheads the corporate social role of the Abheraj Baldota Foundation whose founder chairman Shri Abheraj H Baldota was closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle. The foundation has as its backbone, Gandhi’s message on wealth - “You are not the owner of your wealth but a privileged trustee to serve the community with it.”
“Santati for me is a limitless canvas of introspection and self-discovery woven by yarns of ethos derived from Gandhian influence rendered with the hues of my most intrinsic emotions, especially love and pride for my roots, my country, its leaders, artists, artisans, aesthetics and its rich heritage.”
Ms. Baldota wants to make people realize that Khadi is not just a humble fabric. It’s a fabric that symbolizes strength, resilience and patriotism; it speaks of struggle and perseverance. Through this exhibit she seeks to glamorize Khadi, from modest to resplendent. She wishes to take Khadi from being an important tool of the past, to a relevant necessity of the present, to a sought after luxury of the future.”
