Glimpses of Art

My explorations in ethnic and tribal art of various forms are posted here.  You could either scroll down and read all the articles or click on the articles that interest you.

Mural Textiles of Rajasthan

Palm leaf art of Orissa

Yao Paintings

New acquisitions of Antique Textile ARt from Kutch in the Wovensouls Collection

Textile Art of South East Asia at the Asian Civilsations Museum

Tribal Textile Art of Kutch – the Bhuj Folk Art Museum

The Lunglei Museum, Mizoram

A drive through Old Kuching

Curious Dayak Tribal Objects

Winning my first award in photography

Latest additions to the antique gallery June 2012

Folk Dances of Rajasthan

An Indian discovers India

Ancient Murals of Alchi Monastery – an art collector’s delight

Antique Jain Paintings on textile

Antique Sculptures of Buddha

Christian Paintings from the Past

Church of Saint Francis Xavier of Assissi, Goa

Shadow Puppets of Indonesia, Malaysia and South India

Terracotta Warriors Xi’an, a photo gallery

Antique Java Topeng Masks and Wayang Topeng

Intricate Nyonya Glass Beadwork – antique pieces from the Peranakan Museum

Exquisite Vintage Kebayas – costume of the Peranakan Culture

Conserving antique textiles

Goan Portugese Houses – Art in Architecture

Breathtaking Mural Paintings of Sikkim Monasteries

Art in Buddhist Ritual Objects

Art in Sikkimese Monastery Architecture

Wood Art in Sikkimese Monasteries – Windows, Doors & Pillars

Butter Art of Sikkimese Lamas

Pattachitra Art of Assam

Rural Art & crafts of Assam

Textile Art of the Ahom Kingdom

Cultural Photography – Nikonista.org

Tribal Textile and Bead art of Nagaland

Goan Folk Art – Tulsi Pots

Pottery Art of Africa

Ajrakh Block Print Art

The Vishalla Collection – Utensil art

Hmong Batik Art

Tribal Fashion 1 :Art for the head and face

Tribal Fashion 2 : Art for the Head & Face (continued)

Tribal Fashion 3 : Art in Costumes

Tribal Fashion 4 : Tattoo Body Art

Tribal Fashion 5: Loin Cloth Art

Newari Wood Art

The Buraq in Art

New posts are added regularly.

jm

Glimpses of Culture

A kaleidoscope of glimpses into various cultures within Asia. Each tribe, each ethnicity expresses its identity in various ways – music, dance, textiles, costumes, food, language, life format etc.

It is impossible for an individual to capture the complete essence of any tribe – either one’s own or another’s – but it is possible to experience the diversity and be nothing less than awestruck by the beauty of human society.

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Sometimes the customs and traditions are so different from the ones I have been exposed to until now, that it is hard not to be alarmed and to remain unjudgemental. But the only way to view any custom is to see it as a part of the complete picture, within the paradigm that has given birth to the custom. It is only then that the view is fair.

Every society has its reasons for doing what they do. The set of rules that have evolved have withstood the test of inter-generational transmission. Therefore they are always internally consistent within the system and provide answers to all of the issues faced by that particular society. When viewed from outside, a traveller usually only gets a limited view and she sees a single custom / tradition without seeing all the evolutionary factors and the paradigm within which this is perfectly valid.  Given that this  is merely a slice of the whole life model, which is  quite likely to be different from her own, this view is likely to cause the viewer some dissonance and sometimes result in an imbalanced judgement.

Of course it is not only the limitedness of the view that causes this bias. Sometimes the close-mindedness of the viewer also contributes to this.

It has taken me many journeys into the lives and minds of others to realise that unless the context is known and empathised with, the judgement is unfair and therefore invalid.

I try to make a deliberate effort to ‘understand’ and ‘empathise’ instead of judging.

It is in that spirit that I have written my articles. My respect for their lives is total (and unconditional) even though my information about their paradigm is not.

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The posts have been listed below in order of posting.  You could either choose to scroll down all the way and read all  or click on the titles that interest you.

Return to Ladakh

Anachronism – Mumbai the Mega city & Elephanta the ancient caves

The Ladies Compartment in Mumbai Local trains

Kalinga Diaries

The stylish priests of Jagannath Puri

Journey to the Past – the Science of Epigraphy

In the Presence of the Past

The Magnificent Stone artefacts of Odisha

Camels go on a Pilgrimage

A Rabari Gypsy Tribal Wedding Ritual

A walk through a Rabari Tribal Village

The Stunning tribes of Sarawak, Borneo

A Cultural Stay at Kuching

Bidayuh Tribal Longhouse in Borneo

Puppets & Puppeteers of Rajasthan

The Batak Calendar  of Sumatra, Indonesia

A Python for Dinner

A Dog’s Sixth Sense

Loss of Cultural Diversity

Colors of Mewar,  Rajasthan

Turban Art – The Crowning Glory of Indian Men

The Gangaur Festival – praying for Marital Bliss

The Classic Indian Village fair – Gogunda Mela

Alternate Sexuality Traditions 4 – The Garasia Tribe

The Blacksmith Gadalia Community of Rajasthan

Music of the Manganiyar Tribe

Folk Dances of Rajasthan

Women of India – the Weaker sex

The Holi Bonfire – Past & Present

Mizo Mosaic

The Chapchar Kut Harvest Festival of Mizoram

Alternate Sexuality Traditions 3 – The Lushai Custom

Bnei Menashe – The Lost Tribe of Israel in Mizoram

The Siddi Tribe of Gujarat India of African origin

The Komusa Wandering Monks & their Shakuhachi flute

My talk at Asian Civilisations Museum

Intense Spirituality – Body piercing at the Thaipusam festival

Back to the Future – Tribal Life in Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Hilltribe Lifestyle 1: Glimpses of a contented People

Arunachal Hilltribe Lifestyle 2 : Hunter-Gatherer-Weavers

Arunachal Hilltribe Lifestyle 3 : Innovative housing

Arunachal Hilltribe Lifestyle 4 : A chance encounter with a Shaman Priest during a sacrifice ritual

Arunachal Hilltribe Lifestyle 5: The Gaanv Boodhas or Village Headmen of Arunachal Pradesh

Tribal signatures – Face Tattoos of the Apatanis

Fierce Nocte Headhunters

Head Hunting Trophies

Arunachal Pradesh Lifestyle – Innovative Housing

Traditional Sports – Kabutar Baazi or Pigeon Gaming

Ram Leela at Dassera in Mumbai

Traditional Sports of Ladakh – Archery

Traditional Sports of Ladakh – Polo

Mountain Adventures 18000ft above sea level – a landslide at the Khardungla Pass!

Bactrian Camels of the Central Asian Silk Route – Ladakh

A night-out with the Nomads of Changthang

Mastering the Mind & Body – the Monk Warriors of Shaolin

The Ambubasi Tantric Festival

Church of Saint Francis Xavier of Assisi, Old Goa

Terracotta Warriors, Xi’an – a photo gallery of exhibits at Asian Civilisations Museum

Viva San Jao 2011

Invitation to a Lambani Gypsy Tribal Wedding

Exquisite Vintage Kebayas – costumes of the Pernakan Culture

Sikkim Diaries

Chanting Ceremony at Lingdum Monastery, Sikkim

Losar Celebrations – Bonfire at Kagyud Monastery, Sikkim

Procession at the Enchey Monastery, Sikkim

Little Lamas, Sikkim

Lama Dances at Thongsa Monastery, Kalimpong

Dancing with the Nuns at Phendzong Nunnery

Cross border handshake at Nathu-la Pass on the Silk Route

Yak Horn textile adornments, Sikkim

Street Shrines of India

The Hornbill Festival, Nagaland

Naga Lifestyle

Tribal Dances of Nagaland

Traditional Naga Bamboo Climbing & Fire Making

Tribal Textile and Bead Art of Nagaland

Sacrificial Lamb at Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati

Train Ride across rural Assam – Guwahati to Dimapur

Sumazau Dance of Sabah, Borneo

Journey of a Lifetime – Tibet

The Narakasur Festival

Lifestyle of the Qashqai Tribe, South West Persia

Nomads of Mongolia

Driving to Sindhudurg Sea Fort and back

The Eunuch Community of Bombay

The Dhunuchi Dance at Durga Puja

Thumbuakar Tribals of Borneo

Lucknow – Capital of Awadh & city of Nawabs

The Dragon Dance

The Magnificent Lion Dance

Janamashtami Festival

A cup of tea with nomads and gypsies of the Kutch

Alternate Sexuality Traditions 2 – The Tibetans

Textile Symbolism 1 : Hilltribes of Northern Thailand

Alternate Sexuality Traditions 1 – The Khmers

The children of Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Time Travel Tour Operators

Kissing a Bengal Tiger

Common Memes between Tribes

Into the Arabian Sea at Mumbai

Through Rural Gujarat

Life in an Ashram

Goan Village House

Monsoon at Miramar, Goa

Dances from another place

The Fishing Nets of Cochin

The Lambani Gypsy Tribe

Lifestyle of the Hilltribes of Northern Thailand

Travelling Godmen

Colors of San Jao festival, Goa

Rajasthan Folk Art

Mountain flight to Mount Everest

Pashupatinath – celebration and sorrow

New posts are constantly being added to this list and will appear at the top.

jm

The textile Murals of Rajasthan : Phad art

A new article published by Jozan.net, contributed by me :

Click here to read it.

jm

March 2013

 

ANNOUNCEMENT : Wovensouls to hold first major Live Auction in April 2013

Live Auctioneers will host the first major auction of Wovensouls  on April 6th, 10am California Time.

Important pieces of textile art and folk art from Tibet and a few other regions in Asia will be auctioned live.

The catalogue is now available online to view and to place absentee bids.

Click here to view it.

jm

Feb 28, 2013

 

Upcoming Talk @ The Esplanade, Singapore

Sunday November 25th, 2012
Library @ The Esplanade, Singapore

Details of the talk ‘Tribal Textiles – Signatures of Identity’ may be viewed on the Esplanade website linked here

jm

Nov 2012

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Textile Artwork Curated for Esplanade Theatre, Singapore

Esplanade Theatre, Singapore has commissioned
Jaina Mishra
to curate a a series of Tribal Textile Artworks.

These will be on display
from Nov 23 – Dec 2, 2012
on the main facades of the hallway, the cones above the tunnel and the Library at the Esplanade

ARTWORK 1

The two large panels, each measuring
6m x 2m
have been created using
Vintage ‘Dhaniyo’ traditional textiles
of the Yaduvanshi Ahir tribe from Kutch.

It is estimated that this artwork required 720 man-days (of 8 dedicated hours each) to embroider, 70 man-days to hunt out 12 matching pieces from over 25 villages in Kutch and 30 man-days for assembly – altogether an effort of 820 man-days.

ARTWORK 2

Three large lanterns, each of a different color of celebration have been created
using Bandhani tie-dye saris from Rajasthan. Each lantern is made up of 12 saris.

ARTWORK 3

7 traditionally woven saris decorate the National Library @ the Esplanade

Photos of the artworks will be put up in December.

Esplanade Theatre, Singapore

*click here to view the Esplanade Website

jm

oct 30, 2012

Upcoming Solo Photography Exhibitions : Singapore & Montreal

You are invited to

“TRIBAL EXPRESSIONS”

an exhibition of tribal portraits (photograph prints)

in Singapore & in Montreal

*

SINGAPORE – NOVEMBER 2012

“THE ARTS HOUSE”

The Old Parliament House,  Singapore

November 28th – Dec 1st,  2012

10am – 10pm

***

MONTREAL – JAN 2013

“Gallerie Luz”

Belgo Building

St. Catherine Rue O, Montreal

January 16th – Feb 9th 2013

***

Camels go on a Pilgrimage with their Tribal Masters to pray

I am in Kutch. One of the districts of Gujarat. Which is one of the 28 states of India.

This little portion tucked away in a corner of India bordering the desert is an amazing mosaic of diverse cultures. Of tribes and sub tribes – and their unique ways of life.
Being here reminds me that India is so so delightful! That the wonders never cease. Every trip exposes me to one more unknown facet – one more awing legend, one more practice, one more stimulating, mind opening practice!

One lifetime is certainly not enough to even get a glimpse of all the cultural aspects of India .,… the idea of reincarnation sounds very attractive now ………it will allow me enough time to see all of this beautiful country!

So let me begin again. I am in Kutch.

On a nearby hill there is a temple, home to a Goddess, commonly called Maata.  Rabari tribes have immense faith in this Maata and once a year a fair is held at the temple in her honor.

So families from all over the region arrive at the temple to offer worship.

Sounds like any other fair in India?

Now comes the unique delightful part :

The devotees – who are tribal herders, walk miles and miles from their villages to come to this remote temple to worship. But they do not come alone. They bring their women and children. And they bring their herds. Of goats and sheep and camels. To worship and ask for blessings.

What blessing might a sheep ask for I wonder. Goddess please make my wool siky? What might the camels ask for? I cannot even begin to imagine! And I would ask them but I do not know the camel-dialect that these herders are so fluent in.

So here they all gather together on this particular day every year, humans and herds, to pray to their goddess, asking for blessings and offering gratitude.

And here I am with my camera to witness the event.
A few photos from this unique and delightful gathering.

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The fair had just begun, and worshippers were just arriving – but I had to leave….

jm

October 2, 2012

Additions to the Wovensouls Antique Textile Gallery – Tribal Bags

A few tribal bags that were acquired on my travels…..

Some are  bags originally used by tribals. Others are made using antique or vintage tribal textiles. All gorgeous. All very chic. And each piece is one of a kind.

Sling bag with antique beaded textile with Jobs Tear seeds from Hilltribe of Northern Thailand

Exquisitely hand-woven antique sling bag from the hilltribes of Northern Thailand, accessorized with beads and tassels

Detailed images of these bags and about a dozen other bags showcased in the wovensouls gallery here!
jm
Sep 2012

Meeting Lambani Textile Artists

Awhile ago, while doing research for an art installation project, I met these textile artists who work for themselves – who create their gorgeous art mainly for self-consumption and not for commerce.

Their reluctance to make a piece for an outsider was reflected in the entire conversation – as they quoted a million reasons for not wanting my money.

These women work when they have time, alongside their daily household duties. They create because they love to. They create for the ones they love. They create because it gives them pride.

The strength of their reasons and values is quite likely the reason why their work is so beautiful.

The amount of all the needlework that goes into a piece requires many days of work in addition to the knowhow required to craft it and  the meticulous imagination of an engineer proceeding without drawings. Sharp eyesight and discipline are  of course is taken for granted!

In the home of one of the artists, I met the whole family.  The lady in the first image created a skirt for her little granddaughter. No doubt the girl would soon outgrow the skirt and it might be worn only a few times despite the hard work that went into creating it, but the women believed that creating it for the child was far more valuable than creating such an article for sale!

A completely different world of values – both delightful and refreshing – ensconced silently within a world of ‘modern’ art that is measured mainly in financial terms.

May these little tribal capsules of isolated values remain safe from and unadulterated by the values of the ‘modern’ world for a long long time!

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In the end, I walked away empty-handed without any contract with them to create a large piece of art. Simply because they were not interested in the few thousand dollars on offer.

Walking away empty-handed never felt so good!

jm

Sep 2012