Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 4 (IANS) “Circle of Making”, an Indian-Italian cross-cultural dialogue, will open here Oct 11 with a showcase by senior artist Tarshito aka Nicola Strippoli at the Italian Cultural Centre here.

The exposition will continue till Nov 27.

The artist, whose India-inspired art works are currently on display at the ongoing Venice Biennale in Italy, has been working with Indian artisans since 1986.

The Indian grassroots arts and the country’s rich linguistic heritage have changed the artist’s life in many ways, an official of the Italian Cultural Centre said Monday.

The 57-year-old artist rechristened himself “Tarshito” - from a Sanskrit word - after he was introduced to the language during his numerous trips to India in the last two-and-a-half decades, the official said.

Learning Sanskrit was one of the ways Tarshito explored the evolution of ancient Indian cultures and its reflections on the rural craft and livelihoods, helping him forge close friendships with artisans and reviving rare crafts.

Tarashito, who first came to India in 1979, spent several months with the carpet weavers in villages of central India in 1986.

His collaboration culminated in an exposition, “Carpets of Meditation” in 1987. It was followed by a series of relationships with Indian craftspeople and another exhibition, “The Gold and the Clay”, at the Crafts Museum in the capital.

Tarshito has worked with Indian embroidery, terracotta modelling, miniature painting and tribal art.

“One of the special features of the exhibition will be a live installation of an Ambassador car with the map of India painted on its white chassis. It will be on display at the inauguration,” the official said.

The exhibition has been divided into two segments - “The Circle of Making-1″ and the and “The Circle of Making-II” to be curated by Laila Tyabji and Amal Allana respectively.