Jamdani is one of the most time consuming and advanced hand-weaving techniques in the world. Fabulously intricate in motifs and countless in patterns – added discontinuously onto the loom – it is a weaving tradition that has evolved over millennia and an art that has endured through ages.
Interlace, a show by Gaurang Shah, tells the story of Jamdani by combining a rich array of mediums like film, poetry and experiential installations, to reveal a saga of connections and transformations. Visitors at the event encountered a history replete with fables and legends and explored the multicultural and deeply personal influences that make Jamdani one of the most exquisite creations of India’s looms and also experienced the profound skill and sublime artistry with which the weaver continues its legacy.
Gaurang Shah, who is an award-winning designer and self-taught weaver, has worked with Jamdani weavers across India for over twenty years, explains, “I see a Jamdani saree as a 9-yard canvas. There is no limit to the design ideas I can visualize and execute on this weave. We are surrounded by master weavers (over 70% of whom are women) who can weave any pattern, no matter how complex and yet, like true artists, they keep pushing their craft. At Interlace, I invite everyone to participate in their journey.”
Inspired by the origins of Jamdani – from Persian words ‘Jama’ a flower and ‘Daani’ a vase ¬– the exhibition is visualized as a walk through a Mughal garden. It is an immersive space to connect with the extraordinary craftsmanship and ever-changing idea of beauty subsumed in this weave. It is a celebration of Jamdani’s timeless appeal and its astoundingly diverse forms, which can be found in every direction from Dhaka, Bangladesh to Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in India.
The showcase opened with an exclusive preview on 13th December, at Bikaner House, Delhi. Supported by Atashi Singhania, Chairperson and members of Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO, Delhi), the event featured a special performance, live music by Yorkston Thorne Khan and talks from acclaimed film actress Tabu and designer Gaurang Shah.
