The artistic landscape within the walls of Chennai’s Apparao Galleries has been transformed by a mesmerizing force, the roots of creativity weaving into the space in the form of textile art. Velvet brown roots artfully extend across the room, entwining themselves around a pillar, breaking free towards the ceiling. This is the work of Rakhi Peswani, an artist whose medium is metal sheathed in velvet, evoking the resilience of natural fungi. “To me, it stands for expanding your horizons,” expresses Sharan Apparao, curator of the gallery. The piece is featured in the gallery’s latest exhibition, Entwined, a collection that boasts the creations of approximately 40 artists who use textile as both a craft and a narrative device.
Entwined at Apparao Galleries investigates the intimate relationship between textiles, the human form, and our connection with the Earth. “We have seen a revival in interest in textiles globally,” remarks Apparao. The curation not only showcases the skilled work of traditional artisans but also the interpretations of contemporary artists utilizing traditional textile techniques—a duality that inspired the gallery’s latest display.
The exhibition unfolds into three distinctive segments, with the first showcasing artworks where textile serves as the central medium or theme. Sooraja K.S., a painter from Kochi, captures the beauty of ‘fibres’ in their myriad forms—from the long hair that symbolizes pride to the clothes that we choose to wear. The paintings deftly intertwine hair with clothing, merging them with the simple yet suggestive presence of clothes pins and plaits.
In the eyes of viewers, the attention swiftly shifts to a striking ‘female armour’ created by Mumbai-based Shakuntala Kulkarni. Belonging to the second segment of Entwined, which plays with form and the bond between the human body and textiles, it is ingeniously fashioned from cane.
The final act of the exhibition takes a sartorial turn, spotlighting fashion designers whose work transcends traditional definitions to embrace artistic creativity. “Identifying designers who are also artists was the bigger task,” reflects Apparao. The gallery has carefully selected pieces that fuse the boundaries of art and fashion, illustrating the power of textiles beyond conventional paradigms.
In an elaborate showcase of contrasts, Smriti Dixit presents works that force contemplation. A coat of vibrant red and orange hues, blending khadi and Manchester cotton, serves as a historical commentary on the impact of British textile mills on India’s khadi industry. In a stark shift, her other piece, reminiscent of a royal cape, is intricately woven from fishing nets and the detritus of modern consumerism—from brassiere hooks to garish price tags. “It took me three months to knit them together,” Dixit reveals, her commitment highlighting the slow fashion technique that ironically addresses the issue of fast fashion.
The exhibit then prompts the question: does it signify a growing trend of collaborations between artists and the fashion industry? Though the gallerist admits that such partnerships are rare, they are becoming more frequent as the lines between artists and designers blur, each influencing the other in profound ways.
Entwined is more than an exhibition; it is a testament to the adaptability and profound significance of textiles in the world of contemporary art and fashion. The showcase brings an awareness of textiles as a canvas for expression and commentary, painting a picture that lasts until March 20th.
Chennai serves as the backdrop for this crafted conversation, as Entwined intricately sews together the threads of textiles within the realm of artistic imagination. This unique exhibit encourages visitors to ponder their own snug relationship with the textiles that envelop them – a confluence of culture, craft, and creative interpretation.
