Chanakya at 40: How Indian craft became contemporary art
The Chanakya School of Craft in Mumbai is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a series of exhibitions showcasing the intersection of traditional Indian embroidery and contemporary art. The atelier has evolved from a local workshop into a global force in couture, emphasizing the value of master craftsmanship in modern artistic practice.
Why it matters
It highlights the shifting perception of traditional craft as a legitimate form of contemporary art rather than a secondary decorative practice.
A single millimetre. That is the margin of tolerance at which the artisans at Chanakya School of Craft are expected to work. It is a strangely revealing number for an organisation now presenting monumental works of fibre, sculpture and embroidery. The scale may have changed, but the principle has not: the spectacular is built from tiny, repeated acts of attention.
The Chanakya craftspeople | Photo Credit: Hashim Badani
This September, Chanakya International marks 40 years since its founding, alongside a decade of the Chanakya Foundation and School of Craft, with three exhibitions across Mumbai.
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