Queen’s Gallery, Bangkok: Crafts from the Hands of the Hills…to the Hands of the Queen

Colourful, character-filled and creative, Crafts from the Hands of the Hills…to the Hands of the Queen is a textile-based exhibition which opened at The Queen’s Gallery in Bangkok on August 1^st 2016 as part of the auspicious celebrations to mark Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 84^th birthday. Combining the techniques of hand-weaving, sewing, hand-embroidery, hand-stitching and patchwork, each piece of work on display represents different elements of life in the Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand, a region that’s rich in arts and crafts.

There are approximately 22,530 hilltribe artisans from across 620 villages who are members of the Queen’s support projects whose aim it is to help rural people earn a living through craft skills, many of whom were involved in the creation of the exhibition.

In theory it seems like a commendable project, in reality it is so much more. Visiting this exhibition is a treat for all the senses. Spread across five levels you are led through a rainbow of beautiful work, each one is imaginatively composed with minute details showing intricate craft skills. This isn’t just an exhibition for those with an appreciation for ‘crafts’, it’s art of an exceptional level where you’re constantly surprised by the quality of the work.

Being an appreciator of all things colourful, the first thing I noticed when I walked into the exhibition was the use of colour. It is intrinsic to every piece. They aren’t all made up of vivid hues – it’s more that there are clever colour schemes and palettes at work that together create a remarkable effect.

From a distance the pieces look like interesting examples of textiles but look closely and you’ll uncover stories and depictions of real life. The King and Queen of Thailand spent time together in the hills and during these trips were able to get an understanding of the needs of the rural community, such as the need to improve agricultural techniques, which they addressed, and it’s these visits and moments that are captured in the stories to such a beautiful effect.

Looking around I was taken back by the charm of each piece. I love textiles but I’ve never seen such passionate work before. I’ve been thinking about the exhibition a lot since visiting it. It’s so easy to go somewhere on holiday with a long to-do list and then forget to do everything but if you’re in Bangkok this exhibition will be one of the memories that stay with you.

Here are some of my favourite pieces on display – if you get a chance, go and see  them in real life:

Peaches: a way to conserve forests
Peaches are a cold climate fruit and their cultivation in the hills was tested and proved successful.

Live-changing sturgeon
Because of the cold climate in the hills it’s hard for aquatic animals to survive. The queen initiated an experiment to raise Siberian sturgeon by purchasing fertilised eggs in Russia. By 2014 the project proved successful and led to the first caviar being produced in Thailand.Royal provision of coffee plantations
The royal couple encouraged the hill tribes to grow Arabica coffee in substitute to the narcotic plants they used to grow. They grow in shady areas and benefits contribute to decreasing deforestation.

Symbols of forest conservation
The Queen initiated a project to protect forests from deforestation. Communities with outstanding conservation are awarded with flags inscribed with the motto ‘ Conserving the forest in order to protect our lives’

Fireflies

Rajini Tomatoes
Cultivation of tomatoes have helped increase income for the hilltribes that grow them.

Rainbow trout farming
Trout became a food source and can generate income for hill tribes.

Production of honey
A special hive was built for Indian honey bees where they were able to forage for food which benefited fruit and vegetable orchards.

Details & close ups

Hands of the Hills…to the Hands of the Queen runs at The Queen’s Gallery, (near Phan Fah Leelart Bridge), Bangkok, Thailand runs from 1 August – 11 October 2016. Open 10.00-19.00hrs every day except Wednesdays.

There is an activity programme to accompany the exhibition including handicraft training workshops from the six hilltribes, performances and dressing up in hilltribe costumes, running every day:

Lisu tribe: making Lisu cords

Mian (Yu) tribe: Mian embroidery and making Mia cords

Akha tribe: Akha embroidery

Karen tribe: Weaving with waist loom and Karen embroidery with Job’s tears

Hmong tribe: Hmong applique, weaving of hemp cloth, wax drawing on hemp cloth

Lahu tribe: Lahu embroidery and Lahu bamboo basketry

Pop into the shop of the top floor of the gallery to buy some handmade Thai crafts too:

Momtaz Begum-Hossain
Editor-in-Chief, CraftandTravel.com visited the exhibition on the opening day

ALL IMAGES: CraftsandTravel.com

Designer Gaurang Shah On Reviving Indian Weaving

I grew up around fashion & design
My father opened a saree blouse shop in 1962 and my brother and I would go there after school to lend a helping hand and that’s how we learnt about colour and patterns. I can remember being only 10 years old, in 1984 and realising how beautiful sarees are and that I needed to one day work with the people who made them; weavers. In 1999 we opened another store, in Hyderabad and that is where, at an exhibition, I met my first weaver and began to work on a collection and have now been working with them for over 15 years.

I would be nothing without my weavers
I was named Best Designer at the Lakme Fashion Week – it was great to receive such recognition but actually the award is for my weavers, each of them and the traditions that they continue through their work. They are extremely skilled at what they do and have been engaged in this art for many years.

Weaving isn’t dead!
Not one loom has closed since I started working with them. The weavers are ready to work with innovative designs, however they are sitting in villages. So whilst they possess impeccable technical ability, they do not necessarily have the knowledge of what modern women want. Collaborating with a designer allows them to sell more of their art. They recognise the fact that they have an opportunity to produce something different to what is available else where in the world, and they are ready to be innovative because they understand that it will be more lucrative for them as well. Furthermore, they understand that the more on trend they are; the more constant will flows in and the more they can entice the next generation into the beautiful world of the hand looming industry. Also in weaving it’s not just one technique like in embroidery, you can create a multitude of textures and designs.

Indian woman should embrace national dress
I don’t like outfits, which are exposing, revealing and short. I like Indian women, and women generally in the world, that wear saris! It can be a simple cotton sari and a woman will still look simply elegant and sexy. You have six metres of cloth to work with, so whether it’s designing a new saree or wearing one, it’s one of the best outfits a woman has.

Tradition is better when it has a modern twist
Originally I was working with cotton as the base material for my designs as many people have aversions to silk due to the insects that get killed in the silk purification process. Khadi is a great alternative as it holds well and is a heavy enough fabric to weave on. 
The only problem is that Khadi uses old designs that were small and not considered fashionable by the modern Indian woman. This is why people moved away from the weaving industry in the first place. I attempted to innovate these designs into floral and geometric shapes to give them a contemporary feel. I also work mainly with bright festive colours giving women a chance to wear Indian clothes while embracing modernity.

Interview by Gayatri Sahay

 

Scarf Stories – How Yogi Joshi Gets Design Inspiration From The Himalayas

Growing up amidst the snow clad mountains of the Himalayas which inspired Kipling to write the classicJungle Book, Yogi Joshi the designer of luxury silk scarves Yogy Ramaused the picturesque memories from her home town as her muse. She recalls with a distant, wandering expression: ‘I grew up surrounded by beauty in its rawest and most natural form – farms, rolling hills covered in snow. What more inspiration could one need? Every scarf tells a story, and these stories have been expressed through my artwork which is presented on each scarf.’

What makes Yogy Rama so unique, is that each distinct scarf has been tirelessly designed by herself, which is why she only designs an exclusive eight pieces per collection. Impressively, the entire design and production process takes one month per scarf. She enthusiastically explains: ‘When I start drawing, it takes me to another world. Once the concept is envisioned, it goes onto a canvas which takes almost a month.’ As an artist, Yogi also experiences her fair share of frustrated moments: ‘I have those artistic tendencies when I think, I just want to throw it away. I’m one of those people who can start in the morning at 6am and carry on until the night – I don’t even stop to eat!’ We all have our favourite cravings to help us sustain during all-nighters and so does Yogi as she exclaims, ’I live on green tea!’

Although Yogi has been living in London for the past six years, her designs are created using an 2,500 year old ancient art technique called Madhubaani, which Yogi cites as ‘a very authentic art form, when art was created using simple shapes. ‘Madhu’ means honey and ‘baan’ means jungle or forest, meaning ‘sweet forest’. With real Madhubaani art, everything is covered in different patterns with no space and a lot of colour. There is no real structure to it, unlike modern painting. Madhubaani is very exaggerated and colourful. Yogi explains: ‘This is what makes my designs very enhanced, ornate and striking. Things don’t have to be in their real proportion, so you can go crazy with your imagination.’ Together with her vivid reflections and distinct art techniques, Yogy Rama’s collection is nothing like any other scarf line out there, as she clarifies: ‘my designs are very niche, because of the art forms. There are very few artists who are hand drawing their designs. They are my memories and they are unique to me. They have no structure or connection to reality. I’ve tried to depict them in a contemporary way. There is nothing out there that is as detailed and intricate.’

Yogi developed her artistic flair from her mum, as she reveals: ‘my mum taught me these ancient art forms. I wanted to incorporate Rama into the branding and logo as a tribute to her, since to me she is the foundation of any art form because I learnt from her. My mum is the root and I am the baby flower. She still gives me feedback and she is my biggest critic!’

Although art seems to be in her blood, Yogi only adopted art full time recently as she discloses: ‘I did my degree in civil engineering and completed my masters from Rutgers in America, after which I was a structural designer where I worked with bridges and industrial structures. I shifted my work from structural engineering to management. But then three years ago, I quit my job as I decided to do what I always loved. I started drawing again, but I really didn’t know what to do with them, until my husband saw some of them and said I should take this further.’

However, despite her husband’s identification of true talent in his wife, Yogi continued to pursue her passion as a hobby rather than a career, she continued: ‘I started making jewellery out of silver, gold and precious stones. I realised I loved high-end fashion and got the idea to utilise my unique knowledge and expertise of ancient art forms. The satisfaction I get as an artist is like no other, as there are no boundaries. With a content look on her face, Yogi muses: ‘It feels rewarding, like I have achieved something when I am painting. It’s like these scarves are because of me. You get that feeling that you can create something – this is you.’

In order to reach women from all backgrounds and to suit every individual persona, Yogi details the versatility of her scarves: ‘I wanted to design for women who want to feel elegant and be confident. The scarves really make a statement, as each design goes with a different personality. They are feminine, free and comfortable. I have met so many women who love colours but are afraid of being flamboyant. Women of any ethnicity can look good with a scarf, as you can style it as you wish. Many of my clients are African women who wear the scarves around their heads, since the colours go well with their cultural dress. You can go for the sassy look by tying it around your waist or you can become an Arabian princess by wrapping it like a decadent headpiece. The best thing is, when you wear a scarf, you don’t need accessories. When you’re in a rush, you don’t have time to find and wear your jewels. You can just grab your scarf and it completes an outfit.’

Following the success of her sumptuous scarf collection, Yogi plans to further expand her colony of designs, as she divulges: ‘Due to popular demand, I hope to introduce kaftans and sarongs. Staying true to my brand, my designs will always represent the beauty of the Himalayas and my nostalgic memoirs, assisted by the use of the treasured Madhubaani methods.’

To buy Yogy Rama luxury silk hand-made scarves and to keep up-to-date with her latest collections go to:

Yogy Rama
Twitter
Facebook

Interview by Fariha Sabir

 

Travel sewing machine- the ultimate gift for the Craft and Travel fan!

It’s like this item was designed with us in mind – go on your travels and craft while you are there! This nifty device, a travel sewing machine is perfect for quick repairs or even small alternations. One to gift to a craft addict who is sad about leaving their sewing machine behind when they are on their travels.

£4.95 from Rigby & Mac

Travel Quote Pencils for Non-Digital Blogging on the go

It’s not always possible to take a laptop on your travels and if your mobile is out of juice and you want to take notes, you’ll be very upset unless you go down the traditional route and carry a travel themed pencil on you. With inspirational messages to help you remember why you’re where you are, use them to doodle, draw, sketch, write down observations or even to outline small messages in the sand.

£2.99 each available from The Oak Room

Rainbow applique cushions – yes please

Talk about instant transformation. These are the kind of floor cushions that will turn any ordinary space into a luxury hang-out. The colour schemes and needlework are clearly on point but it’s the fun and fabulous pom-pom trim that gives these beauties a Craft and Travel seal of approval. Place in your living room or bedroom, or use to create a chill-out out space where you can take a break and catch up on reading your next travel guidebook or our latest stories.

£25 from Boutique Camping. 

Indian Horse Toy

Too good to be a toy we have a complete crafty crush on this textile trojan. Hand-crafted from block-printed Rajasthani organic cotton and draped in finery it’s based on traditional Indian wedding horses, upon which the grooms usually arrive upon. Just look at that pink mane, you need it in your life!

Priced £15 and available from Postcards Home. 

 

 

Mumbai Taxi Art

It’s usually Indian trucks that get all the attention with their bold painted typography and graphics but a new trend is starting up in Mumbai where by taxi interiors are getting the full on arty treatment. Read about the story and see more journey enhancing images over at Designboom.