Thursday, November 28, 2019

Mahatma Gandhi’s timeless ideologies at Textile Artist Shelly Jyoti's latest Travelling exhibition titled-‘Bound by Duty: An Idea of Swaraj and Collectiveness’

“Buy five meters of Khadi once a year to uplift the livelihood ofrural weavers” – Textile Artist Shelly Jyoti appeals masses through latest art show in Mumbai

·         The Print: Hind Swaraj, the work seeks to reach out to masses with a text that was written 100 years ago 
·         Khadi as her canvas, Ajrakh printing, dyeing as palette and intricate needlework her brush strokes with motif of fish, the show is a must-watch for all art lovers!!
·         30 new Ajrakh art scrolls on khadi, multimedia spoken word poetry and a short film on making of Swaraj and collectiveness on display!!
·         Jehangir Art Gallery, Nov 26 to Dec 2, 2019

 Mahatma Gandhi’s timeless ideologies have been at the core of Delhi-based visual artist Shelly Jyoti’s art practice for more than a decade now. Using Khadi as her canvas, Ajrakh printing and dyeing as her palette and intricate needlework her brush strokes, Jyoti continues her exploration of Bapu’s concept of Swaraj in a solo show titled Bound by Duty: An Idea of Swaraj and Collectiveness was inauguratedby HH Rajmata Shubhangin iRaje Gaekwad of Baroda (Queen of Baroda) and Mr. Michio Harada, Consulate- General of Japan, Mumbai at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbaion November 26 2019.

Speaking at the event HH Rajmata Shubhangini Raje Gaekwad of Baroda (Queen of Baroda) shared, “I am fortunate to be part of Shelly's journey as a visual artist from Baroda to world renowned textile artist. Since last 20 years, she has been making beautiful panels of Ajrakh painting, khaadi installations with Gandhian messages. Also she is playing a very important part in creating global awareness on art, textiles and Ajrakh painting”.

Mr. Michio Harada, Consulate- General of Japan further added, “This art form resonates with me as Japan as a similar art form with Japanese Motifs. In certain paintings she has used fish as a medium to project her thoughts, that reminded me of my homeland where we also use fish as a motif as it is a valuable part of Japanese culture. I wish Shelly Jyoti all the best for her future endeavors”

Artist Shelly Jyoti has used 5 meter long Khadi cloth to create her some intricate masterpieces with the idea being using indigenous cloth to paint as well as create a market for the rural weavers who are keeping the dying art of handspun khadi cloth alive.  She says, “"In 2016, I created a show titled The Khadi March: Just Five Meters. I was exploring the idea as how contemporary society might engage in swadharma(my duty) towards the nation in order to create a better society. I was examining the idea of buying five meters of khadi once a year by India’s thirty crore urban population. This effortless way could transform the lives of rural spinners, weavers enriching their livelihood. So, I feel if each one of us can buy just 5 meters of Khadi once a year, that will itself create a revolution."

Artist Shelly Jyoti has on display 80-feet-long site-specific installation of four panels, 30 new Ajrakh art scrolls on khadi, multimedia spoken word poetry and also a short film on making of Swaraj and collectiveness, Civilization and Collective Forces. She has specialized in works based on Gandhi’s ideology of nation building for creating moral and peaceful societies, relevant even in the 21st century. Inspired by the idea of social responsibility, she tries to understand the meaning and importance of the relationship between self, societies and social transformation in our fast-paced technology driven world.

Using the motif of fish, both as individual entity and as a collective force, Jyoti explores the biggest challenge that faces mankind today – the disconnection between economic development and ecological well-being. “Ecology is understood both as man’s outer and inner environment. Economic progress of the kind being pursued in India and elsewhere in the world has become an end in itself", shares Artist Shelly Jyoti. The exhibition includes 80-feet-long site-specific installation of four panels, 30 new Ajrakh art scrolls on khadi, multimedia spoken word poetry and a short film on making of Swaraj and collectiveness. Another site specific work in paper titled The print: Hind swaraj seeks to reach out to masses with a text that was written 100 years ago and exploring its relevance 100 years later.

Jyoti, hence, uses the imagery of micro-organisms in water, such as trillions of tiny fishes collaborating together, displacing water to create oceanic currents, waves and turbulence in an undersea environment. She examines the idea of ‘collectiveness’ and ‘collective impact’ that can bring about social change with evolved and spiritually self-aware communities.Artist Shelly Jyoti explains, “These works are inspired by Gandhi’s seminal anti-imperialist text Hind Swaraj written in 1909. To bring social revolutions, for creating peaceful societies, the idea of self-rule or self-control needs to be experienced uniquely by each individual, and ultimately achieve self-transformation”

What: ‘Bound by Duty: An Idea of Swaraj and Collectiveness’ by Artist Shelly Jyoti
When: From 26th Nov to 2th Dec 2019 at 11am to 7pm
Where: Jehangir Art Gallery, Fort