ARTISANS’ and The Humane Collective presents an exhibition of India’s indigenous crafts with modern relevance, proving that future lies in going back to the basics
(Left) The processing of forest-foraged Nettle Fibre; (above)Thebvo Runner from Leshemi Village, in Nagaland. Pics courtesy/Radhi Parekh
In an age when the speed of modern life often distances us from the origins of the things we use — and the rhythms that once shaped them — a quiet movement is leading us back to the essentials. ARTISANS’ Kala Ghoda takes this a step further with mindful living in the form of Episode 01 of the gallery’s collaboration with The Humane Collective, an exhibition that reimagines the home through sustainability, material intelligence, and India’s living craft traditions.
Dipendra Baoni
Founder of The Humane Collective, Dipendra Baoni, brings to this showcase a decade spent travelling through farms, forests, and craft clusters across Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, Kutch, and Kerala. Drawing from these journeys, he describes the exhibition as “an ode to return to the essentials, and this is inspired by two simple yet profound principles from Indian value philosophy: Sahaj (simple) and Mahaj (easy)”.
The exhibition gathers artisans, designers, growers, and culinary practitioners to explore how nature shapes the objects and experiences that anchor daily life. Its focus remains on the fundamentals of life — the living, the wearing, and the eating.
Organic tastes
In the culinary chapter, the focus will be on hemp-based nutrition, indigenous botanicals, and regional staples that carry memory and seasonality. “There will be indigenous grains, to teas, coffees, and plant-based cheeses. Millie Crafts by Millie Mitra, will be offering her range of artisanal vegan cheese focusing on nut-based, plant-forward cheeses made with clean ingredients,” said Parekh.
(Left) Moments from Project Otenga hosted by Kabya Shree Borgohain in Ahmedabad, 2023. Pics courtesy/The Humane Collective
A highlight would be an exclusive dining experience curated by food designer Kabyashree Borgohain of Project Otenga, scheduled to be held on December 19, and 20. This will be shaped by her ongoing inquiry into food, culture, and community.
Jars of Millie’s Vegan Cheese by Millie Mitra
Her practice blends research, storytelling, and sensory experience, and has since grown into a living studio and café, curating meals, workshops, and experimental dining experiences that honour heritage and revive indigenous food practices. Parekh sums it up nicely, “The idea of this partnership is to discover the future of indigenous traditions across India with 18 established, and first-to-market creators over 11 days.”
The wearing and the living
Radhi Parekh
Makaan and Kapda presents furniture crafted from bamboo and hardwood, hand-beaten brass and copperware, black-clay pottery, and terracotta, each offering a grounding in a world increasingly shaped by mass-made modernity. In textiles, the show highlights slow-made apparel in hemp, nettle, kala cotton, wool, and other organic fibres, honouring traditional weaving and dyeing while presenting contemporary, effortless silhouettes. The intention is to avoid cutting and creating by destroying what already exists.
Northeastern high
Bogwood Table by Ajung Yaden and Atem Longkumer of Tribolt, Nagaland
Radhi Parekh, founder of ARTISANS’, explains that the project highlights artists from the Himalayan foothills and the Northeast who are sustaining traditional craft with natural materials.
Ajung Yaden and Atem Longkumer. Pics courtesy/Ajung Yaden, Atem Longkumer
She elaborates this through three distinct practices that will be exhibited: “La Sikkim, where designer Sonam Tashi Gyaltsen aims to strengthen the ecology of Sikkim through design as they turn local hemp, cane, and bamboo into future-forward forms that hold a long-term responsibility for the Himalayan region; Dakti Craft from Meghalaya, rooted in the Khasi philosophy of Dakti (imprint of the hand) — known for wood-fired clay pottery encased in cane that balances tradition and modern relevance; and from Nagaland, duo Ajung Yaden and Atem Longkumer of Tribolt, who craft furniture, and tableware from salvaged local wood. Leaving each grain, crack, and mark visible, they honour the raw honesty of Naga woodworking while adapting it for contemporary, grounded living”.
Dakti’s Clay Pottery from Meghalaya
ON December 11 to 21; 6 pm onwards
AT 52 - 56, Dr Forbes Street, Kala Ghoda, Fort.
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