Artistic skills must survive!

Artists may come and go but the skill of art mustn't!

Traditionally, the skills of arts and crafts are passed down the generations through families living as colonies!

There appears a blockade in this healthy practice due to commercial viability which tests the ability of younger generations to learn and adapt!

Wall hanging weaving is one such artistic skill that for centuries has been practiced and produced by talented weavers who live and thrive as scattered colonies across few locations!

Among the subtropical regions of India, Jute craft is most popular and is derived from the fiber of a reed plant.

West Bengal’s humid climate with plenty of rainfall is best suited for this plant. The plant grows to a height of 3-4 meters and takes up to six months to mature.

Once the plant is ready for harvesting, it is cut very close to the ground and left in the ground for a day or two for the leaves to fall off.

The cut plant is then dipped in water to separate the fiber from the plant. This process is known as retting.

The separated Jute fiber is dried, cleaned, and knit into threads. The threads are woven to make rugs and clothes.

The cleaned fiber, the threads, the rugs, and the cloth all are used to make beautiful craft products like bags, rugs, carpets, hangings, footwear, coasters, jewelry, showpieces, etc.

The Wall Hanging holds a prominent position in the decentralized handicraft cluster. It provides direct and indirect employment to approximately, 5000 artisans.

wall decoration using jute wall hangings is well known for its impeccable plan, assortment, and craftsmanship.

Jute fiber is a natural yarn and the products crafted are eco-friendly as the craft artists use only natural fiber and yarn dying is done conventionally!

The world is changing but the design and weaving patterns of these artisans are old and conventional as there is no mechanism ensuring updating of internal trends, color combinations, dyes used, and designs patterns.

In a way, this could be a blessing since the advent of machine-making and automation will erase the skill of handcrafting!

Survival and changing lifestyles are gradually drifting the younger generations of these artisan families from upskilling traditional art skills to seeking optional professions!

In years to come, these arts may lack skilled artisans and may face a slow death!

The remedial methodology is to make mindfulness in homegrown and fair markets for the results of these skilled workers!

Maintaining a strategic distance from go-between and their abuses, encouraging them to fabricate and showcase new-age art by embracing modem procedures!

The customary and present-day themes for weaving are plants, nature, and God which requires fresh and trending themes to bring a change in the consumer's choice!

If the consumer is the God of protection for the skill of the art to thrive, then the consumers must begin to buy these arts and enable the art and artisan to survive!

* Handcrafted arts will care for the hands that crafted when the consumer's hands extend to support the cause of these arts 🤝