Alternative Art :
Functional art-craftwork by artists

Sandhya Bordewekar

Exploring the concepts of a ‘product laboratory’ through innovative platforms like 0265, bridging the artwork versus craftwork divide in contemporary or traditional realms, Sandhya Bordewekar analyzes the nurturing kinship between the artist and the artisan.
There has always been this rather uncomfortable turf between art and craft, a turf that has seen angry wrestling as well as friendly hugs between the two from time to time. However, if one ignores or moves away from this turf then one often comes across a space in which the artist in his/her avatar as craftsperson creates wonderful and usually wacky ‘objects’ that are often functional, and in this day and age, some of them can be defined as ‘lifestyle’ products. All over the world artist-created craftworks are often extremely well thought-out, carefully finished, tastefully presented, and priced in the premium range. And, most importantly, they are valued. Several years back, I saw cushions in a Baroda artist-couple’s home that had covers designed by Laxma Goud. Not bad, I had thought then, if you can’t afford Laxma’s wonderful prints, well you can take consolation in snuggling up the cushion! Then a couple of years back, Ahmedabad-based collector and gallerist, Anil Relia was working on large prints by Amit Ambalal and created a pair of delightful bone china tumblers with the signature Ambalal monkeys with red bottoms gamboling on them that went as a ‘gift’ to the buyer of the print. The Mumbai-based curators, Jesal Thacker and Jasmine Shah Verma have also been working on creating products such as cushion covers, coffee mugs, coasters and so on that artists (whom they usually represent) create for them. In fact, Santiniketan’s Nandan Mela and the Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda’s Fine Arts Fair are wonderful platforms that encourage artists to create unusual and interesting craftworks.