Handing it to them

For all those looking out for authentic handicraft items, and the quaint articles, jewellery and curios found at such exhibits, there's something very in the offing soon. From January 26 to 29, The Handmade Collective by 'A Hundred Hands', arrives in the city.    The event, a non-profit one, that has been a success in Bangalore over the last two years since its launch, aims to support artisans working with handcrafted products.To be held at David Hall, Fort Kochi, the event will see craftsmen from across the country showcasing a range of products across categories. From Gond paintings to Sanjhi art, Khadi weaves to homemade cosmetics to handmade jewellery and paper crafts- the familiar and the less familiar will be on display at the Handmade Collective.   Launched by sisters Mala and Sonia Dhawan, 'A Hundred Hands' was started with the aim of helping  artisans to earn a fair and sustainable livelihood from their work. Unlike other bazaars, the primary focus of the event is to encourage interaction between the artisans and the consumers - to learn, appreciate, imbibe, exchange ideas and build a community of those who love working with their hands. The products have a contemporary edge to them and are examples of how a traditional art can be evolved to be relevant to today’s audience.“There is a resurgence of handcrafted items in today’s world,” says Mala Dhawan, Founder Trustee, 'A Hundred Hands'. “We want to facilitate a community platform of people and artists interested in handcrafted and recycled products to build cross-linkages of products, skills and ideas at the local, regional and national levels, while also reviving the joy and beauty of handcrafted work amongst consumers at large.” This year The CGH Earth Group of Hotels has come forward to support this programme along with  David Hall.Over 18 artisans and groups working with different media like paper, mud, vegetable dyes, ahimsa silk, khadi weaves, crochet, macramé and many more will be  at the event. The Mughal miniature painting, tribal Gond painting, Sanjhi paper cutting, Hase Chitra mud painting and wooden hand carved combs are some of the unusual and dying art forms showcased by the artisans themselves, some of who are travelling from as far as Rajasthan, UP and Madhya Pradesh for the event. There will also be a naturals products like beeswax balms, handrolled pens, Khadi weaving, Ahimsa Silk, handmade paper, handblock printings and Mud and neem paintings.  'A Hundred Hands', runs a membership programme for small artists and communities to help them become economically viable and provide a community backbone- from across the country. Today, the trust has over 40 members, a diverse representation, all coming together to help make a living and promote the joy of handcrafted.  The organisers are looking forward to their event at Fort Kochi, and believe it will attract enough people.“People in Kerala are educated and have a genuine interest in learning about new art forms. We are very excited about being in Kochi and hopefully if the response is good, then we will surely make this an annual event," says Mala.