A very special event took place at Bangalore International Center, The Handmade Collective by A Hundred Hands. As it was put on hold last year because of the pandemic, the craft festival was back in Bengaluru and was pitched to a very relevant theme: “that of reconnection” which conveys that the artisans would reconnect with their craft and with one another but also to reconnect with the members of the public from whom they drew inspiration and encouragement.
The event was held at Bangalore International Center (BIC), Domlur, Bangalore on 20th & 21st February 2021 and was fully packed with workshops and demos. It was the most enriching programme in the city.
There were over 60 participating artist groups from urban and rural India, some of them of who held workshops and demos as well. The display had a variety of textiles, handloom materials, jewellery, artworks, pottery on display and the visitors were thronged. The display had a range from crafts showcasing Indian art and craft traditions, including bead craft from Khambhat that dates back to the Harappan Civilization.
There were also several workshops and masterclasses held on both days which included hand-building with clay, basics of kitchen gardening, block printing for children, etc.
On Sunday, 21st February, there was a masterclass for Mughal painting, a doll-making workshop, a leather puppet and lamp painting workshop, and a talk on natural dyes.
Along with this, there were food stalls as well which were mostly vegan which were put up by home chefs. There were sweets and confectionery, Snacks, short eats etc and brands like Janes’s Home Bake, Dittoo, Just Trufs, Uppu Thuppa etc.
There were a lot of Professionals taking break from their work and venturing into the home chef business and letting us get a taste of their preparations.
The Handmade Collective took a very special significance against the backdrop of the pandemic and the struggles that the artisans had to endure.
It worked towards a simpler life! Built a community of people who enjoy working with their hands, making things themselves and thrive on the deep sense of satisfaction it offers!
