The British Council launched Warli Exhibition for India Craft Week 2021 to showcase the exceptional associations in art and crafts between the UK and India. The exhibits of the exhibition include the outstanding paintings of Jivya Soma Mashe, who popularized the Warli Art at the national and international levels. The Chapter Three of India Craft Week is the outcome of the collaboration of the British Council and Crafts Village and the former is also the knowledge partner of the exhibition.
The Warli Exhibition was launched in the presence of Shri Arjun Munda Minister of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, Barbara Wickham OBE, Director, British Council India, and Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to the Republic of India.
The exhibition will be on display till February 21, 2021, from 11 AM to 7 PM at the British Council Gallery, New Delhi. Book your tickets here.
The exhibits include a collection of artworks, paintings, and documentation materials commissioned and collected through the Warli Project by A Fine Line between 2006-2021. Apart from the works of Jivya Soma Mashe, the exhibition also includes the works of other artists who showcase the need for institutional support and investment to keep the traditional art form alive.
Speaking on the association, Jonathan Kennedy, Director Arts India British Council said, “India’s crafts, arts, and culture is its DNA, global competitive advantage and driver of wealth creation in the formal and informal economy. The crafts economy includes tens of millions of craftworkers producing astonishing work of quality in rural communities and the metros in India.
Through British Council’s Crafting Futures program we have been instrumental in bringing together major Indian and UK partners to co-develop and collaborate on projects which strengthen livelihoods and skills in crafts in India.
The program addresses key themes that are critical to the Indian market and UNESCO SDGs. We understand that this is a difficult time for the craft sector. Nevertheless, we firmly believe that culture connects us, and at this time of the Covid-19 pandemic creativity and collaboration binds us together.
We have partnered with the India Craft Week to reach out across digital frontiers and national boundaries in solidarity with the many inspiring craftworkers of India and beyond. The upcoming events at the India Craft Week showcase some exciting collaborations in craft between India and the UK. We’re delighted to be showcasing a leading Warli exhibition, Indigo Giant with JV Productions, and discussion with leading UK institutions including the V&A and Whitworth Gallery at the British Council in Delhi and online.
Through partnerships like these, we’re able to build networks between both countries and explore common areas of interest to work together especially around environmental sustainability, women’s empowerment, and crafts tourism.”
