I have been following LOkesh Ghai’s research for his MA at Manchester Metropolitan University with zeal since we crossed paths at the University as I was completing my MA and he beginning his. LOkesh has a rich and varied career, graduating from National Institute of Fashion Technology in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, running his own textile design practice, teaching at Kala Raksha Vidhyalaya in Kutch, and in the last few years, taking part in various artist residencies in the UK. I have previously written about his first exhibition at Platt Hall Costume Gallery as part of the Global Threads and Cotton Exchange projects in Manchester. Before that, in 2011 Lokesh produced work for the…
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Ahh… the peace of village life
I’ve been in Bhuj two days and it makes a nice change from hectic Ahmedabad. While it is busy, Bhuj is quite small and easy to get around. I’m staying at the Gangaram, a friendly guest house at the top of the Shroff bazaar and near the imposing Aina and Prag Mahal. Since I was last here, there seems to be more traffic, particularly motorbikes, and more hotels which cater to the growing number of tourists. Accompanying these are increasing numbers of shops selling the regions’ diverse range of crafts. Gujarat Tourism is realising the attraction that the local crafts have all over the world and are beginning to promote this to give…
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Return to India
Above image: The toran – here a beaded hanging- is hung over the door to welcome entrants to the house I’m looking forward to another trip to Kutch via Delhi and Ahmedabad in a few days time. I spent three months here in 2008, when I worked for a small organisation called Kala Raksha – a grass-roots trust working with the local textile artisans to preserve the traditional arts and provide sustainable livelihoods. It was an informal arrangement after being introduced to the founder Judy Frater through Carole Douglas who ran the textiles tour I took part in – Desert Traditions and Textile Treasures. The tour took us travelling round Kutch…
