Among the many things COVID has given us is time- all of us have it in equal abundance. Many of us, especially from the craft sector, sit back, not having to organise fairs and work all the time, now have the time to spare.

How we best utilize this time is a decision we have to make for ourselves. We could pick on the things that need to be done to sharpen the tools of our minds, refine our work, organise ourselves, reach out to clients and colleagues, etcetera 

An interesting thing to do would be to zoom out and look at the bigger picture, looking for the things that we have put up with so far but can be changed now. 

Today’s condition regarding Indian crafts, from the loss of market to the lack of entrepreneurship and adequate policymaking in the sector, has been upcoming for years. The pandemic has only amplified this situation, which we would otherwise have faced years later in a scattered timeline and an uncoordinated manner. The advantage of us having to face it all together is that there is more dialogue surrounding it.

Crafts and industry as one:

I have been working in the crafts industry for the last 24 years and have seen the passing of some exceptional artisans and craftsmen. Their children have inherited their talent but not the eye for beauty. All the present craftsmen and artisans recognize how special the identification of beauty is. Beauty is abundant in our traditional crafts, as it is part of a bigger concept of aesthetics that has been refined over centuries. Can we bring this beauty alive in today's world, without losing the fine balance of time, place and product that made our crafts beautiful in the first place? Can we make pattachitra relevant, by talking about issues that are of importance to the consumers of today - would they work as a wedding invitation? 

Craft, in its essence, is not only the craftsperson that makes, but also the making- Everyone can make, everyone has the capability of creating. We create a barrier between craftspeople and the market, by calling the traditional craftsmen “karigar”and calling the users the “consumers” . A  person appreciates a craft much more when they have actually experienced it. For example, a person who has stitched a  button on their shirt would look at the craft of Kantha with a fresh perspective.

If we look at all processes of making as an act of crafting, we can leverage a lot more than a traditional craft process- expand it to include the best of what an industrial process has to offer as well, and not only as a material or a process, but also as a way of organising. This interaction will benefit not only a craft person, but also the whole ecosystem as there is so much that crafts can teach to the world! It becomes interesting when we look at how they can both be brought together (keeping their respective advantages) as one. For example, the challenge with brass is oxidation. Appropriate and correct use of lacquers , which are an industrial material, can prevent that. Here the cooperation of industry and craft is of benefit to the craft sector

We are well aware that there is a difference between handicrafts and industrial processes but why should this difference affect any approach to creation? Where it should be used, for example we used to sketch on paper, then moved to AutoCad and today we make it in 3D.  Everyone can evolve and bring change and everyone has the right to transformation. Culture is more than how we lived in the past. It is a living , breathing , dynamic present , and like everything else, it has to evolve to stay relevant .

The Time is Now.

The current times have forced us to come together, become one and see what can be done together. It is typical of us to always compete with the ones around us, fearing that the spotlight may be stolen by another. Maybe the time has come to unite with our strengths and support one another. To become unified, artisans and craftsmen don’t have to look outside for help; they as a society know their problem and can resolve it better than an outsider. Cooperation among people from the artisan communities along with the others who are directly dependent upon the practice, propagation and prosperity of the craft has a far larger impact than that of many trying to reach the same goal individually.

The time is to think, not to panic. It is imperative for us to be talking, sharing our problems with one another and seeing how we can work together for a longer period of time. We, as Indians, are capable, smart, skillful and supportive and it is high time we use that to our advantage.

Regards,

Ayush Kasliwal

Director

akfdstudio.com