IFA@Bangalore | In His Own Right: The Life and Work of Maneklal Gajjar by Mala Sinha and Suchitra Balasubrahmanyan | August 21, 2023 | The Park, Bangalore

We invite you to an evening of conversations around the life and work of Maneklal Gajjar (1928-2012), a textile block maker and master craftsman from Pethapur, Gujarat.

Mala Pradeep Sinha and Suchitra Balasubrahmanyan embarked on a research project celebrating the life and work of Maneklal Gajjar which culminated in a monograph on his life and milieu, and an exhibition, held in Baroda, Gujarat, earlier this year.

In this session, through materials from Maneklal’s incredible archive of his designs, correspondence with clients, books of accounts, photographs and films, Mala and Suchitra will talk about how Maneklal blurred the boundaries between craft and design and presented himself as a modern personality who is self-reflexive The presentation will offer us a glimpse into his work, and the shaping of his aesthetic and social persona.

In His Own Right: The Life and Work of Maneklal Gajjar
A presentation and discussion by Mala Pradeep Sinha and Suchitra Balasubrahmanyan

Date: August 21, 2023 | 07:30 PM onwards 

Venue: Oak Room, The Park
No 14/17, MG Road, Bangalore - 560 042

The event is free, open to all and has Indian Sign Language interpretation.

Join us for drinks and hors d'oeuvres post the presentation.

To RSVP, write to Darshana at darshana@indiaifa.org

Mala Pradeep Sinha is a textile designer based in Vadodara, Gujarat.

Suchitra Balasubrahmanyan is an independent scholar.

Mala Pradeep Sinha received a grant from India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) under the Arts Research programme, made possible with support from Parijat Foundation.

Image Credits: Maneklal Gajjar, Mala Pradeep Sinha and Suchitra Balasubrahmanyan

We thank our beverage partners: SDU Wines, Moonshine Mead, and Great Indian Gin, in collaboration with Svami, Masters of Mixing.