India and Australia have come together many times before, but this time, there is a quirky touch to their craft. From a Nano-inspired design to a coke can, Samaanata - a collaboration of artistes symbolising the delicate and fascinating culture of Australian-Indian cultural exploration gets young creative minds together to discuss their creativity. It will meet on December 7 and 8 in the city.
The jewellery design of an Australian designer's travels, like her Nano models chained together to express India's traffic jams, in a traditional Indian hand crafted model explains the quest to find a niche in both cultures.
This conference Samaanata brings together designers to create partnerships and promote market linkages between the two nations.
It is conducted by Sangam and Collaborative Community, a Bengaluru based design firm. Kevin Murray, the curator of the project, describes the journey to be “exhilarating." He says, “It witnesses a new generation of young artisans who are uncertain about the future of craft. With the city being an icon in entrepreneurship and innovation, the response that we have received in Bengaluru is immense."
The conference involves the culmination of 70 artistes from across the globe discussing, presenting and interacting about their specialisations.
Speaking to Victorian jewellery designer, Katheryn Leopoldseder, about her jewellery exhibit Where Moth and Rust Decay she says that, “My jewellery illuminates my travels through India and my experiences here. This conference gives me a creative exploration of Indian and Australian artistic relationship which further helps me establish a connection between contemporary and modern art forms." In addition to that, the Australian creative community includes artists and designers from the country.
The mission is to reach out to artisans across geographies and offer everyone a local flavour of a nation steeped in culture and tradition. Achyutha Sharma, founder of Collaborative Community says that this year the focus is mainly on the consumer. He adds, “We are trying to emphasise the medium and the method of the art and make the consumer understand the difference between handcrafted and handloom." Adding to that north eastern designer Smitha Murthy, who is associated with The Ant - an initiative that helps tribal artisans in the North Eastern region says, “Discussing relevant issues and bridging the gap between these artisans and consumers helps the revival of the craft. In the current scenario, I think that is necessary to facilitate the growth of arts and crafts."
