Fashion is an extension of culture — it continuously looks up to it, feeds from it, evolves from it. If culture is a river, fashion is its most loyal tributary.
Cinema too, armed with the richness of its medium has tried to bring various cultures to life. Indian cinema has been particularly kind to Punjabi culture — partly because many of the famous Indian directors, came from Punjabi households.
We have loved Kareena Kapoor’s portrayal of the boisterous Punjabi kudi from Bhatinda, as we have loved Happy Singh (Akshay Kumar), a gold-hearted boy from the pind (villages in the heartland of Punjab).
But Punjabiyat as portrayed in the movies is seen as a catchall of Punjabi culture.
And somewhere amidst the visual tropes that have come to signify the North Indian state, a part of its indigeneous art, craft and textiles, seems to have been lost.
To correct this, Concept 1469 and art historian Alka Pande have come together to identify, accept and critique Punjab’s past and current socio-cultural narratives through the metaphor of Phulkari, with the third edition of the exhibition, “Mela Phulkari: Threads of Punjab”.
Many interesting exhibits are on display at the exhibition, put together by Concept 1469’s Kirandeep Kaur and Harinder Singh and historian Alka Pande, which goes on from April 7-17 at the Open Palm Court, India Habitat Centre, Delhi.
Among the delightful curation of pieces, one is titled Trinjan Tambu by Harinder Singh, Amrita Mahindra, Nona Kaur and Simran Kharbanda.
Here, the artists exhibit the patch worked phulkari tent structure, which in its open and slit paneled structure denotes the inclusiveness that the culture stands for.
Baagh de Rang by Sanjaria Bedi is an installation to celebrate the chromatic marvel of baagh embroidery, the hand embroidered loop of colourful threads on khaddar fabric.
While Virsa by Bandeep Singh is a collection of photographs depicting life in rural Punjab.
The photographs were shot in Sangrur, a town that was once among India’s princely states.
Chanan by Anjali Kalia is a garment installation taking the viewer through the evolution of clothing in Punjab through the various eras, ranging from the emergence of Sikhism to contemporary interpretations of the same.
The brand, Concept 1469, as evident from its name — is a conceptual brand that is steeped in the roots of Sikhism, from where it also gets the number 1469 in its name — signifying the year when the religion is said to have been established.
Victims smitten by Punjabiyat’s richness, including director Imtiaz Ali are participating in the event. Ali speaks on Saturday April 16 taking viewers through the cinematic journey that he charted in his movies somewhere in the hinterlands of Punjab.
About what the mela really signifies, perhaps historian Alka Pande says it best.
(With inputs from IANS)
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