Kutch to Ladakh Artisan to Artisan Outreach Programme
Hemya village, Leh District, UT Ladakh
The objective of this outreach program is to give introductory inputs in design education so that the women artisans in the region can themselves innovate within their traditional craft. Finally, a collection of designs will be produced by the women as a collective towards an exhibition to take place in Autumn 2022.
About Somaiya Kala Vidya (SKV)
Somaiya Kala Vidya is an institution of education for traditional artisans of Kutch. Its strengths are a deep understanding of culture and arts and focus on the artisan. Combining 55 years’ experience of Somaiya Vidyavihar University with 8 years of design education for artisans, Somaiya Kala Vidya offers sustained, coherent programs in design and business to provide effective, relevant and practical education.
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Outreach Programme
Somaiya Kala Vidya’s Artisan-to-Artisan Outreach Programs share the benefits of artisan education. A mandate of SKV is to share the value and benefits of education for artisans and expand the reach of our work. Artisan Designer graduates work in teams with artisans of the host organization in less exposed areas- as a kick-start to demonstrate that innovation in traditions, and design education are beneficial. The SKV artisan graduates serve as designers and mentors in creating a collection of innovations in the host artisans’ existing tradition.
About Project
The program started with artisan graduate teachers demonstrating their carpets to the women weavers. During this early introduction women artisans were impressed by Prakash bhai’s carpet, where they enquired if they would be taught how to copy the same carpet? If they can be taught how to use the frame loom? That's where DESIGN EDUCATION comes into picture.
It was explained to the women that the backstrap loom is a very special craft which is rare and practiced only in a few parts of the world. It is a portable loom set, very flexible to use and non-complicated in terms of tools and ability to create a variety of weaves. The womem artisans presented their traditional carpets where they are engaged in making:
Wool carpet
Sheep wool carpet with pile cutting technique used on bed mattress
Tsokthul
Large size sheep wool carpet with pile cutting technique
Skarak
Sheep wool belt with tassels
Introduction to selected Principles of Design
Design Principles that would be most relevant for their craft of carpet making were taught to them.
Balance
Negative and Positive
Perspective
Market Exposure
Market Analysis and Product Planning
Costing
Artisans as students
27 women artisans belonging from the Rong tribe of Hemya village participated in the design education workshop. These women practiced Hand Spinning and Weaving on Back strap looms, primarily making carpets used as floor or bed coverings. The participants worked as part of two self-help women groups: Blackstrap looms on the contrary are still practiced by the women seasonally.
Rong Tribe
The word Rong, means people who live in a narrow valley. The tribe has been in various villages across Ladakh for generations. The Rongs reside in a remote village named Hemya. The word ‘Hemya’ means ‘fish’, and is derived from the geography of the village. The village is located on the bank of the Indus River, roughly shaped like a triangle, thus looking like a fish.
Milestones
June 2021
Initial Visit by SKV Director
August 2021
Need Assessment and Baseline survey
October 2021
Project Implementation
April 2022
Feedback and Suggestions
August 2022
Exhibition
Teams
Design School
Somaiya Kala Vidya
Project Sponsor
NABARD
Supported by
Leh Nutrition Project
Foreword by SKV Director
Nishit Sangomla
Artisan – Artisan Outreach programs were conceptualized to replicate the philosophy and vision of Somaiya KalaVidya to other artisan communities across India and the World. Personally, I have always pictured our campus in Kutch to be a giant huge tree that has benefitted from years of experience and knowledge put into it by not just the Founder Director Judy Frater, but also the community elders/advisors that were involved right from the beginning, the faculty who have taught at SKV, the trust and the values that the Somaiya Group instilled into our vision and mission, strengthening the foundation and the artisan students and graduates who have been pivotal and vital to our growth story.
We now want to spread the seeds of this sage old tree over the rest of the nation and the world through our outreach efforts. attempting to scale the concept horizontally, letting local assets, principles, and traditions serve as the cornerstone for forming new partnerships and encouraging the emergence of new trees that would eventually aid in the concept’s wide dissemination. The Ladakh project played a crucial role in this growth story because it was the first Artisan to Artisan project that was fully supported by SKV through NABARD and established the direction in which we want to move the initiative. Looking forward to future initiatives of this nature and expanding upon the idea and vision.
Artisan Design Graduate Teachers
Prakash Siju
Carpet weaver designer
Bhujodi, Kutch, Gujarat
Pachan Siju
Handloom weaver designer
Bhujodi, Kutch, Gujarat
SKV Design Visiting Faculty
Lokesh Ghai
Assistant Professor
School of Design, UPES
Dehradun, Uttrakhand
Staff
Lakhabhai
Office Manager
Yashika
Program Coordinator
Padma Angmo
LNP Support Staff
Gallery
Work With Us
Write to us at kalavidya@somaiya.edu in case you wish to implement a similar Design Education program at your location or if you require a Project report
