Bhubaneswar, 15/5:Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik today inaugurated the exhibition ‘Sustain: The Craft Idiom’ at Kala Bhoomi, Odisha Crafts Museum here in the city.
It is a specially curated cultural project for the 2nd G20
CWG meeting (May 14 to 17, 2023) in Bhubaneswar by the Ministry of Culture,
Government of India.
The theme of the exhibition is reflective off the second
priority of the Culture Working Group (CWG) – ‘Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable
Future.’
The exhibition is being held at Kala Bhoomi – Odisha Crafts Museum from the 15-22
May 2023.
Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and DoNER Shri G. Kishan
Reddy; Union Minister of State for Culture and Parliamentary
Affairs Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister of State for Culture and External Affairs Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi and Union Minister for State for Home Affairs
Shri Nityanand Rai were present.
‘Sustain: The Craft Idiom’, presents varied expressions of India’s age-old living heritage and
indigenous knowledge systems that have sustained individuals, communities, and societies in
shaping their beliefs, values and traditions since time immemorial.
The vision for the exhibition
is to create awareness amongst visitors, professionals and policy makers about the many
living heritage practices that prioritize mindful and optimal utilization of natural resources and
harmonious coexistence between humankind and nature.
‘Sustain: The Craft Idiom’ is composed of three constituent experiences – Akshara, Stambh
and demonstrations by master artisans and teachers – which encapsulate these manifold
aspects.
The exhibition showcases more than 35 crafts and various languages and scripts
of India through objects and live teaching demonstrations.
The first section of the exhibition ‘Akshara – Crafting Indian Scripts,’ highlights diverse
languages and craft practices of India, reflecting unique worldviews and traditions.
Through
a new design vocabulary, Akshara showcases the visual beauty of India’s scripts,
expressed through alphabets, verses, phrases, poems and colloquial sayings.
‘Stambh:
Craft, Collaboration and Continuity’, explores indigenous crafts practices and their and
contemporary expressions. This section showcases functional objects designed with
elements of traditional crafts, through collaborations with artisans, adapted for urban
audiences.
The exhibition will also have master classes and demonstrations.