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Kutch Maldhari Motifs Revived Through Traditional Ajrakh Block Printing
An exhibition in Delhi is showing special printed clothes from Kutch.
The clothes were made by the Khatri family, who are known for Ajrakh printing.
Their designs include pictures that tell stories about Maldhari pastoral communities.
One design shows a stepwell, which was important because water helped families decide where to stop.
Other designs represent camels, birds, spiders, flowers, and bees.
The prints use natural colors and can help cloth stay comfortable in hot and cold weather, according to Dr Khatri.
The collection is about 45 years old and was revived after plans to show it earlier were delayed by the Covid pandemic.
The exhibition is open at Dastkari Haat Studio until September 20.
A Delhi exhibition showcases a nearly 45-year-old collection of Maldhari block prints from Kutch.
Artisan Dr Ismail Mohammad Khatri revived the collection with his brothers, Mohd Razzakbhai and Jabbarbhai.
The prints feature motifs representing stepwells, camels, birds, bees, farming, and other aspects of Maldhari life.
Ajrakh uses natural dyes, traditionally in red and blue, on fabrics including cotton and silk.
The exhibition runs from September 17 to September 20 at Dastkari Haat Studio in South Delhi.
- Who
- Ajrakh artisan Dr Ismail Mohammad Khatri and his brothers, Mohd Razzakbhai and Jabbarbhai, whose family revived the collection.
- What
- An exhibition of Maldhari block prints featuring historically meaningful motifs from Kutch.
- Where
- Dastkari Haat Studio in South Delhi; the family’s studio is in Ajrakhpur near Bhuj, Kutch.
- When
- The exhibition opened on September 17 and runs until September 20; the collection is nearly 45 years old.
- Why
- To showcase and revive traditional prints that preserve stories and cultural history associated with Maldhari communities.
Key facts
- Exhibition
- ‘Maldhari Block Prints, You Have Not Seen Before’
- Venue
- Dastkari Haat Studio, South Delhi
- Exhibition dates
- September 17 through September 20
- Collection age
- Nearly 45 years
- Price range
- Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000
- Technique
- Ajrakh block printing using natural dyes
- Family studio
- Ajrakhpur, near Bhuj, Kutch
Quotes
Dr Ismail Mohammad Khatri
Ajrakh artisan and reviver of the Maldhari block-print collection
“The natural dyes we use work like wax. In summer, the pores of the fabric open up, so air passes through easily, and the fabric keeps you cool. In winter, the same pores close, and the fabric keeps you warm.”
indianexpress.com
“When someone fell sick or fainted in the desert while working, they could be easily noticed due to the bright clothes in the white desert of Rann.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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