As a network, CD is a space for new ideas, incubation and enabling passion for the sector. Consequently, members within the network suggest new innovative ideas and initiatives that are led and driven by them with support from the operations team. In many cases, the members would bring in funding themselves or get supported by a fund raised through CD.
Some examples of such member-driven explorations are :
In 2021, CD pioneered Craft-based NFTs!
Our member, Ekibeki spearheaded a collaborative art project ‘Hand in Hand’ where contemporary painters worked alongside traditional artisans to create pieces that told a story of the strength of our culture. The entire collaboration was nurtured remotely during the pandemic and is a testament to the creative synergies of these artists, separated by geographies but connected with art!
FDCI and Lakmé Fashion Week then partnered with Creative Dignity and Ekibeki, to convert these pieces into artisanal NFTs that were launched on WazirX NFT, a NFT marketplace.
Stitching a Kantha collaboration together!
In 2023, Sonia Parshad Bhanndari, a CD member who is also part of the Advisory Council, agreed to experiment with the Kantha embroidery of West Bengal in a methodology that would enable excellence, art and new utility through collaborative innovation with artisans, designers, researchers and many other creative practitioners! Her company, Padmini VNA is supporting the project.
Indian Ceramics Triennale, 2024
In 2023, Priya Krishnamurthy of 200 Million Artisans approached CD to represent traditional potters at the Indian Ceramics Triennale. CD engaged Raju Sutar and Rajesh Kulkarni to curate the installation that makes a statement about the divisions of art and craft, the resilience and dynamism of traditional handmade practices. The curators have worked with potters in the Kutch and Warak clusters to work on better clay mixes and firing techniques and to tell their story in an evocative installation – Lost & Found.
“Potters in Kutch and Warak have a thriving local and tourist market, despite the alternatives. The question is how long the practice will continue to sustain unless potters get enough value and work in the craft. In times of challenges with raw materials and markets, opportunities to innovate are few and need to be actively enabled. Lost and Found has been one such experiment.”
– Meera Goradia
The Triennale is open from 19th January 2024 to 31st March 2024 at Arthshila, New Delhi.
