Alliance showcases work of craftswomen

An exhibition showcasing the works of two talented Indian craftswomen at Alliance Francaise was inaugurated by Consul General of France Yves Charpentier on Monday.

Earthy masks made from a mixture of river clay and old cardboard easily attracted the attention of visitors. Besides the masks, there were clay bowls, idols of Ganesha, clay figures of horses, turtles, scorpions and other animals.

These were made by Lavingben of the Waghri community residing under Gandhi Bridge. In fact, noted sculptor Esther David been instrumental in bringing this exhibition together. At her first meeting with Lavingben in 1975, Esther felt she was a ‘natural artist’.

With the exhibits on sale and with the money Lavingben gets she will be able to reconstruct her life as an artist. "This is an example of how art can redeem the daily life of the poor and illiterate," said Esther.

The patchworks on the wall were the creations of Deeptiben who hails from Saurashtra. "I have been doing patchwork since childhood, but now I have started to use it as an expression of my thoughts," she said. All the displays depicted the rural life and folklore of Gujarat like the impression of hands which a daughter leases when she gets married and leaves her paternal house.

"Earlier when there were no photographs this was one way for parents to remember their daughters after they got married," says Deeptiben, explaining the significance of the tradition.

Charpentier was all praise for the artists. "It is amazing how simple people without any formal training in art can be so imaginative and creative," he said.

Compiled from local news media