Well known textile connoisseurs David Housego and his wife Mandeep Nagi present “Bukhara”, a first ever exhibition of their private collections of suzani, carpets and ikats that were unique to Central Asia in the 19th century.
A display of their personal archives will begin on 1st of February 2023 at the National Crafts Museum, New Delhi, 4.00pm onwards. The ‘Bukhara’ collection will be on display till 15th of February 2023.
David’s love for textiles started from Iran where he had collected antique tribal rugs while working as a journalist. He has been an avid admirer of Indian crafts and textiles when he researched the East India Company in the 18th century and subsequently through his travels over the years in different parts of Asia. It is his passion for textiles that led to the launch of “Shades of India” with his wife Mandeep Nagi. The preview thus pays a spectacular ode to their love for textiles.
As the exhibition amalgamates David and Mandeep’s affinity with art, culture and textile, take yourself on an immersive journey through the textile traditions of Central Asia.
Details of the preview:
Date – 1st February 2023
Time – 4.00pm onwards
Venue – National Crafts Museum -the Special Exhibition Gallery (1st Floor) Pragati Maidan.
About the exhibit:
The exhibition captures the intense creativity that evolved in the Bukhara region at this period. The 40+ pieces on show come from the collection that David and Mandeep Housego have put together over the years. The suzani hangings (unique embroideries generally of silk thread on a cotton base), the Beshir rugs woven by Turkmen tribes, and the sophisticated ikats worn by the wealthy draw on the legacy of the Silk Route – thus influenced by Chinese porcelain, Mughal decoration and Persian carpets.
Along with the abstract forms in striking blues, reds and yellows that mark many of the suzanis and ikats, are the bouquets of flowers and intertwining stems that capture the beauty of a garden in a desert oasis. The exhibition is timed to coincide with the two major exhibitions at the Louvre and Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris that reveal the little-known legacy of Uzbekistan culture. Though Uzbekistan is so geographically close to India and its textiles draw so heavily on Indian influence, the beautiful suzani, rugs and ikats are relatively unknown in India.In different ways and dimensions , both bring back a focus on the uniqueness of Central Asian art which has long been difficult to access.
A must-visit, hence, for textile enthusiasts. Bold, natural colours and striking abstract forms characterise the amazing textiles on display at this exhibition.