AID TO THE ARTISANS
‘India for Artisans,’ an online auction and fundraiser, raises ₹23.2 lakhs for artisan communities. From traditional crafts to tribal art, from contemporary home decor to experiential craft, India for Artisans, a unique crowdsourced auction fundraiser championing the ‘Handcrafted in India’ story, has raised ₹ 23,19,746 at their unique auction.
The event is supported by collaborators 200 Million Artisans and Creative Dignity that partnered with StoryLTD by SaffronArt. Post the second wave of COVID-19, with the loss of so many lives and livelihoods it became essential to care for the artisans who have suffered greatly due to the devastating effect of loss of lives and livelihoods and many volunteers stepped forward to help while generous patrons donated their precious items and time at their heritage properties, for the cause.
The artisan communities have faced a lot of difficulties ranging from lack of access to food supplies, medicines, quality healthcare, to cancelled orders, no sales, and lack of working capital for new orders.
“We sincerely thank all the patrons who have generously donated products and experiences for this fundraiser auction as well as those who have enthusiastically bid on them. We are humbled by their participation that has allowed us to raise INR 23.2 lakhs to aid in the economic recovery of the artisan communities across India who have been affected by COVID-19,” says Dinesh Vazirani, Saffronart CEO and Co-Founder.
The India for Artisans auction fundraiser has raised the funds for immediate and long-term relief and rehabilitation to help India 39; artisan communities get back on their feet. The collaborators invited collectors, curators, craft aficionados, philanthropists and others to donate unique pieces from their personal collections towards this auction.
“We are truly grateful to all our donors as well as supporters who bid generously with the singular goal of ensuring the money went to a good cause. With the funds raised, we can help many artisan communities get back on their feet while also raising awareness for how integral the handmade sector in India is to sustaining the livelihoods of nearly 200 million people,” says Priya Krishnamoorthy, Founder, CEO, 200 Million Artisans.
This auction has been completely crowdsourced and featured traditional, tribal, and contemporary Indian art, craft, luxury fashion, and experiences donated by celebrated names from the worlds of art, craft, design, and hospitality — committed to elevating the ‘Handcrafted in India’ story.
The organizations declare that 100% of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to Creative Dignity to support the economic recovery of artisan communities across India.
Leading the sale was a ‘Private Afternoon Tea’ with Maharani Radhikaraje Gaekwad and a private tour of the Lakshmi Villas Palace including the world-famous collection of Raja Ravi Varma paintings in the Maharaja Fatehsinh Museum that realized ₹1,14,620.
Another sell-out lot was Splendour in the Hills ‘A Mussoorie Escape with the Maharaja of Kapurthala,’ donated generously by Brigadier His Highness Sukhjit Singh, Erstwhile Royal Family of Kapurthala. The experience realized ₹1,41,248.
Artist Jethro Buck who trained under a traditional miniature artist called Ajay, brought back to life ‘The Forest’ a limited edition, Giclée print of an imagined ancient British woodland, inhabited by birds and animals that lived or once lived in the British-Isles. Buck’s ‘Forest’ sold for ₹92,345 and a hand-block printed map of ‘Bharat in Ajrakh’ realised ₹1,23,200. However, topping the list of handcrafted items was the gorgeous hand-knotted rug from Jaipur Rugs which sold for ₹1,16,105. These were the hot selling items, besides chairs, handcrafted sarees, and other knick-knacks.
Notably creative is the work by artist-designer Rooshad Shroff’s unique practice, allowing fantastical doodles created by children of well-endowed parents, where a skilled artisans recreate the doodles on a circular six-inch white marble plate, with black Bheslana inlay, which is in turn preserved.
Shroff’s approach is based on the philosophy of integrated design to celebrate the handmade traditional skills of the craft traditions of India.
The princesses Mrinalika and Akshita Manjari Bhanj Deo are Directors of the 200- year-old Belgadia Palace in Mayurbhanj and are working to build sustainable tourism with social impact at its core to the tribal-dominated region. Their contribution was for bidders to bid for a two-night stay at The Belgadia Palace, Mayurbhanj.
Ayush and Geetanjali Kasliwal contributed an ‘Ottoman’ titled Amaze that has been handcrafted from responsibly-sourced mango wood and the cushion seat handwoven as a customized dhurrie in the ancient punja technique with an innovative introduction of silver lurex into the cotton.
Prince Yeshwantrao Holkar, the scion of the royal family of Indore, is an ardent advocate of regenerative travel. He is a founding partner of Ahilya Experiences and helms the social enterprises Women-Weave and REHWA. Their contribution was a three-night four-day luxury stay at the 250-year-old Ahilya Fort Heritage Hotel, Maheshwar.
Mayank Mansingh Kaul put up for auction, three works from his collection of the ‘Tree of Life’, series, which has been beautifully brought to life in the gond style by artist Mangru Uikey. The work has been an enduring and recurring symbol in Indian art through the ages and carries universal and contemporary appeal. “For an important cause such as this, I wanted to select a few works from my collection which could signify good beginnings; something auspicious. I want to emphasize their more universal appeal, as good omens,” says Kaul.
Well, it was certainly a good omen to see the art-collecting community step forward and give with open arms to a good cause.
Text by Georgina Maddox
Image courtesy: 200 Million Artisans and Creative Dignity
Find more about the auction and contributors:
https://200millionartisans.org/
https://www.instagram.com/200millionartisans/