Mumbai Embroidery Atelier Chanakya Marks 40 Years with Three Art Exhibitions

Chanakya International, a Mumbai-based embroidery atelier, is celebrating four decades of operation this September. The organization is marking the milestone, along with the tenth anniversary of the Chanakya Foundation and School of Craft, through three separate exhibitions across the city.

The exhibitions, titled En Route, Garden of Gestures, and Belong, trace the studio's journey from traditional embroidery to contemporary artistic practice. The installations utilize fibre, sculpture, and embroidery to explore themes ranging from historical travel narratives to the cartographic evolution of Mumbai.

Creative Director Karishma Swali noted that the work aims to capture the energy of Mumbai, using materials like cotton to reflect the city’s industrial history. The projects involve collaboration with the Chanakya Collective and aim to bridge the gap between historical craft and modern conceptual art.

Curators and organizers associated with the exhibitions stated that the displays are intended to dismantle the colonial-era separation between art and craft. By presenting these pieces in a museum and gallery context, the organizers seek to elevate the status of master craftspeople as artists.