THE ART OF
KANTHA
FROM THE COLLECTION OF NIRMALA JAGANNATH
The Museum Of__ proudly presents
The Art of Kantha
Curated by Mark Quint
These vibrant patterned textiles, often made from stitching together recycled saris and other traditional fabrics, evolved from the craft of women in the Bengali region and are part of the enduring design vocabulary that has been evolving for thousands of years.
Kantha, meaning “patched cloth” in Sanskrit, is one of the oldest forms of embroidery originating from India since the pre-Vedic age.
The history of Indian textiles offers a contemporary defense against the pervading fast-fashion industry and unethical labor practices, and also brings to light a deeper question that exists around the categorization of craft, tradition, and fine art.
