|
|
|
|
Postion: Home > News >News |
|
Kantha Quilts At The Phila. Museum Of Art |
| Author:Embroidery Channel Original:Network Date:2010-1-5 20:41:03 Click:1 |
The Philadelphia Museum of Art's current exhibit of embroidered Kanthas from Bengal provides a wonderful glimpse into the beauty of these everyday objects. Similar to the tradition of American quilt making, Kanthas are quilts constructed using scraps of fabric from used clothing. The threads used to embroider the motifs are mostly taken from women's saris that have become too threadbare to wear. This practice of reusing what is available lends itself to certain aesthetics which are obviously similar to those of some western folk arts. A woman would start making these quilts when she was young, first learning from her Mother and other female members of her family. When she got married she would continue the practice and learn under the watchful eye of her mother-in-law. Learning an art form in this way means that over time different styles of embroidery and quilting mesh together, therefore unintentional stylistic similarities between many of the Kanthas begin to emerge.
The shapes, sizes, and functions of Kanthas are varied. Although they share similar attributes, these embroidered quilts all have a life of their own based on who embroidered them, where they came from and what purpose they were made to serve. The Kanthas on display were chosen to show off the sense of architecture and shape that the women envisioned when embroidering them. They were never meant to adorn the walls of a gallery, but instead were to be viewed when placed over the top of a cushion or wrapped around a ceremonial object.
In the center of each quilt there is usually a lotus flower or similar circular design. Around the borders you can find trees filled with fruit as well as animals and paisley motifs. Large panels of the quilts embroidered with scenes of urban or rural life become the focal point of the piece. With depictions of gods and goddesses, the pleasures of city life and the abundance of the nearby river delta, the designs are colorful and full of symbolism. You can easily imagine looking at these quilts from above or seeing them laid across cushions, with the motifs accentuating the drape of the fabric.
The design of the exhibition allows one to see similarities between the Kanthas, as well as highlights their differences. In one room a Kantha which has been backlit gives a glimpse into its construction, showing seam lines where scraps of fabric have been joined and the drawing lines where the design had been marked down before embroidering. Viewing the construction of the Kanthas in this way provides an even better appreciation for the time and effort that was put into these beautiful quilts.
The walls of the gallery can only hold so many Kanthas, but the ones that are displayed are exquisite. They have survived the test of daily use and family life, which is not common for such an object. The full collection of Kanthas can be seen in an extensive catalogue for the exhibition which also includes further information about their symbolism and importance in the Bengalese household. There are companion exhibits in the main building of the Philadelphia Museum of Art which also help to further understanding of Bengalese culture as well as the role of women in creating and preserving important ritual items like the Kantha. Exhibitions like these can remind us of the items we use daily, how much design and effort went into them and their impact on the aesthetics of our lives. The Kantha from Bengal is not all that different from the handmade textiles many of us have in our homes. Appreciating how another culture treats its everyday objects may inspire us to approach our own in a different way by spending more time to make them ourselves, or to use them more and let them bring beauty into our lives on a daily basis.
Kantha: The Embroidered Quilts of Bengal, curated by Darielle Mason, The Stella Kramrisch Curator of Indian and Himalayan Art, is on display in the Spain Gallery, Perelman Building until July 25, 2010.
Timothea Canny is a recent graduate from Moore College of Art with a major in textile design. She is currently a student teacher and artist in residence at Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Bryn Mawr. |
| [BACK] |
 |
Related article |
|
|
|
|
Popular article |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
