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One of the important
objectives of Shilpgram is in the sphere of increasing awareness and
knowledge of rural life and crafts, specifically, for the younger
generation. Special emphasis is laid on workshops for children on arts,
crafts, theatre and music.
The Rural Arts and Crafts Complex - Shilpgram - would also provide an
opportunity to rural and urban artists to come together and interact
through the process of camps and workshops. It is hoped that through
intimate observation of different styles and experiences, urban and
rural artists would learn from one another and enrich their skills and
art forms. The Centre promotes contemporary urban ceramists, potters,
designers, visual artists etc. to work with their traditional
counterparts in creating works of everyday art which would then be put
up for exhibition and sale for visitors.
The Center developed two Museums in the Shilpgram where simple objects
of day-to-day use, that represent the sense of wonder and aesthetics in
rural and tribal life are put on display. In addition, a Crafts Bazar in
the fashion of a traditional 'haat' was made where visitors could buy
traditional crafts from the Zone. Craftsman were invited periodically to
demonstrate their skills and sell the crafts to the visitors at the
Shilpgram.
An attraction no less of the Rural Arts and Crafts Complex is the open
air Amphitheatre with a seating capacity of approximately 8000. Besides
the major theatre festivals which the Centre hold here, it is hoped that
this facility would motivate the local community as well as outside
visitors to take a keener interest in theatre and the traditional folk
performing arts.
Shilpdarshan is a continuing activity at Shilpgram in which traditional
performing artists and craftsmen are used to draw from the interior
villages of the member states. They are regularly invited to exhibit
their skill and to demonstrate their crafts, and sell their masterpieces
in order to have direct access to the buyers. This programme has
encouraged the rural craftsmen and performers in a big way. The
Shilpgram has become an important landmark in India and Government of
India has decided to replicate them in all the Federal States of India.
In these traditional huts, household articles of everyday use - whether
terracotta or textile, wooden or metal, along with decorative objects
and implements - agricultural or craftsmen's tools, etc. are featured
with appropriate signages and explanatory details. The objective is to
give a realistic glimpse of the people and their belongings representing
Unity in Diversity and National Integration.
In order that the above is vested with its own internal dynamism, the
huts are constructed around an interlocking occupational theme.
Traditional village life was said to have been, to a considerable
extent, self-contained and self-sufficient with a potter, a carpenter, a
blacksmith, often a weaver, living alongside one another. The Centre's
Rural Arts and Crafts Complex adopts this cellular approach such that
each individual hut is at once an organic entity and at the same time
nourishing and husbanding a series of such transactions.
In this integrated pattern
are 5 huts from Rajasthan, representing weaver's community from Marwar.
There are 2 huts named after the two sand bound villages of Rama and Sam
from the desert region of western Rajasthan. From the hilly region of
Mewar, is a potter's hut from the village Dhol, 70 kms west of Udaipur.
Two huts represent the tribal farmer communities of the Bhil and the
Sehariyas of the Southern regions of Rajasthan.
There are 7 representative huts from the state of Gujarat. A cluster of
six huts from Banni area and one from Bhujodi have been selected from
the arid wastelands of Kutch. the Banni cluster consists of two huts
each of the Rebari, Harijan and Muslim communities famous for their
weaving, embroidery, bead & mirrorwork, wood work and rogar work.
Equally well known for its valiant horses, Lambdia village near Poshina
in North Gujarat is represented with a potter's hut. Adjoining to the
Lambdia potter's workshop at the Shilpgram is the weaver's hut from
Vasedi village in Chota Udaipur area in western Gujarat. Two huts
represent the Dang and Rathwa tribal farmer communities of southern
Gujarat. In addition to these, there is an ornately carved wooden house
from Pethapur near Gandhinagar.
Selected after an exhaustive survey of the Konkan coast of Maharashtra,
the Koli hut is from a seashore hamlet in Raigarh district. Close to the
Koli hut stands one from Kolhapur - representing leather chappal
craftsmen from southern Maharashtra. From Thane district in north
Maharashtra is aWarli hut replete with its wall paintings. The tribal
farmer community of the Kunbis is also represented along with two huts
of the Gond and Maria tribal communities from eastern Maharashtra famous
for their 'dokra' work.
From the member state of Goa, there are 5 representative huts. A
potter's hut from Bicholim stands in close proximity to a Hindu hut and
Christian hut made of local laterite stone. From the lush green taluka
of Canacona is a typical hut of the Kulumbi tribal agriculturalists
renowned for their grass and cane weaving work. A hut chosen from the
Mandovi riverside represent the traditional fisherman's way of life.
Thus each member state of the West Zone has huts derivative of certain
basic occupations fundamental to the way of life of the people of the
area. In addition, certain occupations feature a commonality so as to
offer a basis for comparison. For example, three member states have a
potter's hut since working with the earth is fundamental to all our
cultures. What is interesting to highlight is how Indian people have
fashioned and reshaped this basic element to suit their environment,
needs and aesthetics. Similarly, two member states of the West Zone
feature weaving, again as an affirmation of how geography and needs have
given rise to such a variety in this most basic of occupations. Also
while the above are illustrative and not exhaustive, the occupations and
crafts to be shown will differ so as to cover a wider variety of our
crafts heritage.
In order to ensure that a visit to Rural Arts and Crafts Complex -
Shilpgram Udaipur - becomes an educative and enriching experience, the
hut from Sam (Marwar) is planned as the Activity and Documentation
Section where workshops, seminars etc.can be organised. Similarly the
cluster of Banni and Bhujodi huts from Gujarat would comprise of Guest
Room facilities for the visiting master craftsmen, researchers and
scholars. A Goan mainstream hut and Mewar potters hut can accommodate
children and students.
How to
reach
Nearest airport is
Maharana Pratap Airport
(also known as
Udaipur Airport or
Dabok Airport (IATA:
UDR, ICAO: VAUD)) which is located 22 km (14 mi) east of Udaipur.
One can easily reach Shilpgram from the city by taking local Buses,
Rickshaws, Tongas and Taxis.
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