THE TRIUMPH OF KACHCHH
CURATED BY SATISH REDDY
A kaleidoscope of works from the craftspeople we presented over a year ago, and their remarkable journey from artisans to artists
As a border state, Kachchh (Kutch) has always been a gateway for cultures of various kinds as people came by land and sea from Africa, the Middle East and the Swat Valley. Each meeting brought with it unique culture and craft, and as people settled and made new lives, with their lives evolved their craft.
Kachchh is today a rich haven for craft and textiles. To truly honour what the artisans do, it is essential to also help them to transform and change in order to keep their skills alive : to make them relevant and hence in true demand.
Satish Reddy is a rare person who has dedicated most of the last decade to making that change. Satish hasn’t just brought passion, he has added mentorship, systems and a framework for craftspeople to interact with art and design thought to push the boundaries of what is possible to do. Our Gallery 47-A presented the first ever public showing of this work in May 2023. It was nothing short of a sensational success.
That show was the catalyst we all hoped for : each person went home and created a workshop divided into two. One part was where all the job work got done - the guaranteed earnings; the other part became the studio, where the Artisan became the Artist…
Post our first show in May 2023, much had shifted : the artisans, once hesitant, now came to us with new questions and ideas. “Why are we doing this?” they would ask. “Here’s an idea I’d like to explore.” They no longer sought approval but direction for their own inquiries. They wanted to know what they wanted to know, to study what truly intrigued them— without worrying about the perceived marketability of the art-work.
At the same time, they began to consider the viewer’s attention in a new way: What does the viewer know about this place and time? Where do they find themselves in the work? They weren’t simply creating for an imagined buyer anymore. They were crafting for the viewer within—the viewer who is always at hand, who sees with curiosity and fresh eyes rather than relying on what’s been done before.
This shift in perception—from creating for an imagined buyer to creating with the viewer’s experience in mind—has been one of the most important transformations. Is this generosity of spirit that elevates their creations into art? This collection emphasizes participation, authorship, vibrancy, transparency of labor, and relational aesthetics. The pieces are process-based, allowing the viewer to witness the work in its evolving form, even embracing the unfinished. It’s a break from tradition, but one that was necessary to find something new.It is the transformation of the Artisans to being Artists.
Satish Reddy
