About EARTH Art Gallery
Based in Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh ,India
Earth Art Gallery works on reviving lost or waning Indian craft traditions. EARTH Art Gallery is a social entrepreneurial venture making Indian craftsmen partners in its profits, while sustaining their craft as authentic art, which is in tune with contemporary aesthetics. Not as a utility product or commodity aided by modern design
as is the practice of many craft initiators but as an organic creative development that takes into account modern elements of art. By mutual interaction with fine art professionals through workshops, residency programs and lectures, the gallery empowers artisans to create and sustain their own unique, age old art enhanced with knowledge of new mediums, materials, techniques and contemporary aesthetics. Initiated by Lipika Rao Gandra , an I.T professional working with a MNC company ,a freelance curator at ICONART for Art Events related to social awareness . Earth Art Gallery recognises the uniqueness of India s rich cultural traditions and aims to protect, preserve, sustain and create wider awareness both in India and globally. To record and sustain crafts like Kalamkari , Nakashi , Pottery , Batik , Leather puppetry , Bronze casting , wooden toys , paper crafts and indigenous paintings spread across India and further create a Global market for these crafts is the mainstay of Earth Art . Wide variety methods like workshops, lectures are introduced to affect new vitality into these crafts . Some Of these crafts are on the verge of oblivion and have to be rescued with new impetus by infusing them with contemporary aesthetics . Earth Art aims to improve the economic conditions of artisans by making them eqaual partners . Heritage tourism , art residencies and mobile museums are some of the unique ideas the gallery is working on. The rich craft traditions of India need to be revived and revitalized with fresh energy of contemporary art practices, with modern aesthetics. This not only suits global tastes and sustains the artisans economically but here we have a solution where the crafts find an organic way to adopt changing conditions. These Crafts in turn sustain without losing its connect with the grassroots or compromise on the artisans creativity. This involves training them in new methods and practices of techniques and also in bringing awareness of the uniqueness of their craft. Art forms like terracotta, folk art and craft are infused with a new vigor by the support of professional artists practicing in contemporary art forms .Also, to bring in an intense awareness of the uniqueness of our rich art traditions both to the younger generation of craftsmen , to urban India and to help build Brand India on a Global platform. The gallery acts as a facilitator that brings together, indigenous art with modern art practices. The artisan is still connected with what he is making and not catering to a consumerist urban market nor commoditising their craft as a utility product. EARTH Art Gallery has worked on projects that supported potters from Bobbili, by giving them novel pottery designs by artists from Shantiniketan. Another success story is of a skilled potter Jayapraksh who is taken as a pilot case study , exposed to theories of fine art practices by artists from Central University , Hyderbad , J.J School of art Mumbai and Baroda art schools. His output of art with high aesthetic levels blends in his rustic experiences with modern Art Form. Here is a success story of bridging a gap as well as increasing its economic value multifold. Earth Art Gallery conducted workshop on woodcut techniques with 28 local artisans and fine art professionals participating in it . There was a healthy sharing of techniques, ideas which culminated in an art show ‘Deep in the Woods ’at Earth Art Gallery .This was greeted with great a success . A workshop of Nakashi Artists with Nageshwar Rao and his family (one of the only two practicing families of this craft ) was made to interact with artists from professional art colleges . Here the outcome saw a unique production of art that made use of the Nakashi Traditions with modern aesthetics .This paved way to further ideas of sustaining the waning crafts of India by introducing them to mainstream art and by displaying them in art shows at professional art galleries . After much experimentation Earth Art Gallery created a module where authentic original art is sustained without compromising on the traditions and still suitable for Contemporary tastes. Bridging the gap between craft and art . G.Lipika Rao Gandra
Director/Curator
Ph- 9848022011
Email : [email protected]
Address :
1672 S.B.I bldg
Rd No 12
Banjara Hills
Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh
India 500034
