Time To Look At Commonalities In Danish And Indian Civilisation, Says Lekhi

New Delhi | Updated: 20 November, 2022 8:31 pm IST

‘Tradition is Contemporary- Danish Textile Craft in Art and Design’ started at National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy on November 16, Wednesday.

While inaugurating the event, Union minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi on Wednesday, said, academic research will be done on the Indian fabrics and the traditional ways of artisans to popularise the country’s textile sector in the global market.

She suggested recreating Indian fabrics using sustainable ways for better marketing on international platforms.

“It’s time we start looking at the commonalities in our civilisations,” Lekhi added.

With deep reflection on the history of Denmark-India relations, various artefacts that are born from the fusion of Indian art on Danish are brought in for display at the three-month-long exhibition.

The exhibition seeks inspiration from pieces that are stored in The National Archives (Rigsarkivet) in Copenhagen, the Ministry of State for External Affairs and Culture said in a statement.

The curators have reproduced textile installations for the exhibition that are used as part of the scenography. Works and life of textile by Danish artisans from as early as 1930s who work till today are also available to watch. The idea explores local Danish traditions while often taking direct inspiration from Indian crafts and techniques.

Also, the oldest pieces from Danish heritage at the exhibition include 9 specimens of Indian textile samples, dating back to the early 1800’s, which were sailed on merchant’s ships to be sold in Denmark by the Danish Asia Company.

Freedy Savne, Ambassador of Denmark to India who was also present at the inauguration ceremony said that India has many cultures and it is the best living civilization. He also applauded how India has kept its culture and traditions intact which reflects in the work of artisans. “Indian fabric and textiles have shaped humanity,” he said.

Shantmanu, DC (Handicrafts) said that India has a cultural exchange programme however, soon the Ministry of Textiles will be initiating craft exchange programmes for wider exposure of artisans involved in the sector.