Storytelling and the Artist series
(October 2020-October 2021)
Storytelling & The Artist series was conceived by textile designer Lokesh Ghai during COVID lockdowns all over the world. Many local artists and craftsmen found their income dry up as there were no tourists or markets open. Along with Lokesh, both of us created this online series with an Australian design house and magazine. Lokesh and I would work with the local Indian artists to understand their worlds of design, symbols, stories and inspirations. The series comprised 3 parts - Lokesh would introduce the artist and create a film about their work, biography and design inspirations for an English-speaking audience. I would tell upto 3 stories that brought this world alive to the listeners - stories that were sometimes sourced from the artist (with permission to tell it at the event in English), and at other times based on the symbolic universe of the artists that resonated with folk tales and fairy tales from another part of the world. I would re-tell these stories in private to the artist in their language, and see if they resonated with the artist. The third part (and the most important) was the artists leading a online discussion with the audience about their work (with translations from Lokesh) and show their work online. For many artists, during lockdown, this became a small steady source of income as people bought their works online. It also became an avenue wherein local artists, who are often treated as labourers and craftsmen in India, could express the ideas and inspirations behind their work and connect with artists and craftsmen from around the world. We ran 6 events before the world returned to its connective freedom.
Storytelling and the Artist 1: Online storytelling between Scotland, India and Australia with Warli artist Ramesh Lakshmi Hengadi, myself and designer & academic Lokesh Ghai and discussion, October 2020
Storytelling and the Artist 2: Online storytelling between Scotland, India and Australia with bead artist Sitaben Chavda, Ahmedabad, myself and designer & academic Lokesh Ghai with discussion, December 2020
Storytelling and the Artist 3: Online storytelling between Scotland, India and Australia with Kutchi weaver Aswin Devji Siju, myself and designer & academic Lokesh Ghai with discussion, May 2021
Storytelling and the Artist 4: Online storytelling between Scotland, India and Australia with block printer Ajrakh artist Khalid Amin Khatri (Ajrakhpur), July 2021 (Part 1 of 2-part special)
Storytelling and the Artist 5: Online storytelling between Scotland, India and Australia with block maker and master artist Govindbhai (Pethapur), August 2021 (Concluding part of 2-part special)
Storytelling and the Artist 6: DURGA PUJA Special: Online storytelling between Scotland, India and Australia with basket weaver Anuradha Chauhan (Himachal Pradesh), October 2021
