Karishma Swali takes Indian hand embroidery to the Venice Biennale

Set against the grandeur of Venice, the illustrious La Biennale di Venezia stands as a beacon of cultural exchange and artistic innovation, drawing in artists and enthusiasts from all over the world. This year, the 60th edition of the prestigious art fair will take a unique turn with an artistic collaboration between Karishma Swali and the Chanakya School of Craft, along with celebrated Indian artists, Madhvi and Manu Parekh. 

Titled ‘Cosmic Garden,’ the exhibition showcases paintings and sculptures by Madhvi and Manu, along with hand embroidery interpretations crafted by Karishma Swali and the Chanakya School of Craft. The purpose of the exhibition is to celebrate India's vibrant cultural heritage, bringing the art of hand embroidery to the forefront and underlining the enduring legacy of the country's artisanal traditions. As Swali puts it, “At the intersection of art and craft, ‘Cosmic Garden,’ presents embroidery as both an intimate, almost meditative art form and a practice with profound social and artistic implications, especially when it moves beyond the domestic sphere and enters the public realm.” 

Madhvi and Manu Parekh, celebrated for their evocative artworks rooted in Indian mythology and tradition, wholeheartedly embrace this collaborative endeavor. Cosmic Garden is not merely an exhibition; it's a celebration of India's diverse beauty and a commitment to preserve its cultural heritage through bold experimentation and innovation.

While Madhvi Parekh’s art depicts celestial beings and symbolic representations, Manu Parekh showcases vibrant compositions infused with elements of Western modernism with abstract expressionism. 

Madhvi's artworks often narrate an expansive tale spanning childhood memories, folk motifs, and divine figures. Her artwork, Village Opera (2022) is a fine example of her craft. In this artwork, Madhvi depicts images of ordinary life in Indian rural areas alongside Indian mythology and deities including Ganesha, Durga, and Kali amidst a myriad of colourful birds, animals, and plants. 

Manu, on the other hand, prefers to capture the essence of masculine and feminine energies through bold experimentations using colour and form. For Shiva’s Tandav (2023), the artist drew inspiration from the Shiva Lingam, a holy emblem of the Hindu god Shiva. Here, Parekh imbues the shapes of each form with the intensity of the Tandav dance, a holy performance representing creation and destruction.

Here are some of the noteworthy artworks that are featured in the exhibition.

 

 

In the cosmic dance of creativity and tradition, Cosmic Garden emerges as a testament to the enduring power of art to transcend time and space, inviting viewers to embark on a journey of discovery where ancient myths meet contemporary visionaries, and where the universal language of craft speaks volumes about the richness of human expression.

Cosmic Garden will be exhibited at Salone Verde - Art & Social Club from April 20 to November 24 2024. 

All images credits of: Chanakya School of Craft

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