Download CV Nandita Palchoudhuri

 

Career Graph

 

A cultural entrepreneur with very strong international and grassroots network.

 

Works as a Consultant-Curator with Indian Folk Practices in the Visual Arts, Crafts and Performances.

Creates cutting edge functional applications using traditional skills to address a contemporary social need. Explores the possibility of Art to reexamine the old and create new relationships between social engagement and aesthetic gesture.

This process helps to regenerate the craft as well as provide sustainable livelihood for the artisan.

 

 

Positions Held

 

·    Independent Consultant -Curator of Indian Folk Art, Craft and Performances

·    Ex-Chairperson- Trustee on the board of the India Foundation for the Arts headquartered in Bangalore. (www.indiaifa.org) 2002-2012, 2021-present

·    Advisory Board ,Crafting Futures,India, British Council

·    Member - FICCI-Creative Industries Committee

·    Member - Governing Committee, Alliance Francaise du Bengale

·    Trustee - Academy Of Fine Arts

·    Member - International Initiative for Social Philanthropy(Ford Foundation)

·    Member - Governing Committee-Calcutta School of Music

·    Trustee - Neemrana Music Foundation (New Delhi)

·    Trustee - Sapphire Dance

·    Member - Paramparik Karigar, Mumbai

·    Member - Expert committee on West Bengal, Indian Chamber of Commerce.

·    2000 onwards: Member Crafts Council of West Bengal

·    1998-2000: Secretary, Crafts Council of West Bengal

·    1996-1998: Assistant-Secretary Crafts Council of West Bengal

·    1991-1996: Member Crafts Council of West Bengal

 

v  Clore Chevening Scholar in Cultural Leadership-, 2011-2013, UK Government

 

v  Invited by the French Government to study the Lyon Festival of Lights and other Cultural Institutions in Paris

 

v  Invited as Indian Representative to the Visitors Programme, Berlin, Germany

 

v  Trained in Indian Classical vocal music, in the Guru-Shishya Parampara by the leading exponent of the Benaras Gharana, Padmavibhushan. Girija Devi

 

Important Engagements

 

2019-present:

·    Co-Curator with Lucy Tomlins to present Gods Factory ,an International Sculpture project in collaboration between Indian potters in Kumartulli , Pinch Potter Dolon Kundu and 4 British Sculptors to create Giant outdoor installation with cross fertilization of techniques, in 2022 in Coventry, UK.

 

2018-present:

·    In a partnership with premium lifestyle aggregator Baro, Mumbai to exhibit annually and sell high end craft based products  resulting from incubation with Craft clusters in the native localities

·    Comprehensive Training to artisan Clusters in design, packing, transport, labeling, billing and basic banking.

·    Introduction of online selling of crafts to Artisan clusters.

 

2017-present:

·    Development of new line of products with Teracotta- Burdwan,  Sholapith -3 Clusters, Muslin and Jamdani –Nadia and Kalna , Silver filigree 24 Parganas, Wood carving Natun Gram

 

2016:

·    Mediator for the New Patrons Project run by Goethe Institute, Germany-based in India

· Invited by Goethe Institute to Weimar, Germany as a Participant Speaker at the Weimar Culture Symposium on the Sharing Economy.

·    Invited by Pro Helvetia to Research and produce report on –Handcrafts in a Mature Economy-Switzerland

·    Speaker at the Crafts Council of India National meet    

 

2015:

·    Consultant to Jan Sahas to devise Arts based income generation for freed Manual Scavengers in Madhya Pradesh

·    In the process of designing a cross cultural project (M)otherland with UK partners to engage Indian Diaspora through craft

·    Speaker at The Kolkata Literary Festival, National Library, CIMA Talks, Pushpbitan International

 

2014:

·    Consultant to the Artsacre Foundation to set up the largest multiarts facility with a Museum of Bengal Modern Art in India

·    Consultant to a UK Film project with young artisans of Patachitra practice in Medinipur

 

2013:    

·    Presented a Collaborative Lights Installation at Jantar Mantar Delhi , for Bonjour India with Patrick Rimoux ,France and Chandannagar Lights to commemorate the visit of the French President

·    Consultant to Dance Theatre Project, ‘Dialogues’ with Sasha Waltz and Guests, Germany at a heritage building site in Kolkata

·    Wrote a comprehensive report on cultural institutions in the UK as a basis for the   British Council project Re-imagine as a part of the Clore-Chevening secondment

·    Designing of a transactional English teaching module for artisans, delivered through a telephone app in collaboration with the British Council and with know-how from ITC (UN agency) in Geneva

 

2011:

·    Created an Outdoor Installation in collaboration with a Scottish Artist, in Edinburgh during the Edinburgh Festival made of Shola. The prime purpose of this exercise was to introduce waterproofing to the delicate raw material in order to expand its end use.

 

2010

·    Invited by the French Government to study the Lyon Festival of Lights and other Cultural Institutions in Paris for future Collaborations.

·    Developed a prototype for a Artisans Chamber of Commerce with assistance from IBM, USA using West Bengal as a pilot area.

·    Initiated an organization in Calcutta “Anantara” that presents total site-specific cultural entertainment. Have presented Malavika Sarukai on the Hooghly, Anurupa Roy, Navtej Johar against the Calcutta Skyline on a heritage building, Qawali from Nizammuddin Dargah,A rock band in fusion with Folk artists, Odissi within the Government Art College etc.

 

2009

·    Creating artistic work in Collaboration with French artists using Indian Traditional Techniques for the India Exhibition, Centre Pompidou 2011

·    Consultant Expert on the board of the Cultural Mapping Project of the Goethe Institute

·    Invited as Indian Representative to the Visitors Programme, Berlin

·    Principle consultant to Kolkata Fashion Week, for collection of Traditional Bengal Weaves.

·    Invited to Johannesburg ,and Durban, Zululand ,Pmb ,South Africa to speak on transformation of Traditional Craft into contemporary practice-highlighting the Traditional Scroll painters evolution to Community Health Workers. Supported by ICCR, and the Durban Art Gallery

·    Creating knock down Marquee in the traditional Pandals style for Zoo Lake Johannesburg as a part of the Shared Histories Festival, 2009

 

2008

·    Signature images of Durham,UK incorporated in the traditional Giant Gates that span the roads of Calcutta during the Durga Festival. The Bamboo panels are encrusted with 120,000 hand wrapped bulbs and animated to create a spectacle, unique to Chandannagar in Eastern India. Exhibited as a part of Enlightenment Festival, Nov 2008. Has since won the Best Event-UK award from Arts Journal.

 

 2007 

·    Design and Implementation of an Arts and Public health project in Medinipur in collaboration with Dr. David Gere of UCLA and the UNESCO and UNAIDS .

·    The project uses traditional scroll paintings and accompanying narrative songs     as a communication tool for HIV awareness in rural Bengal in partnership with health workers.

·    Lecture-Presentation at the CHINA ART ACADEMY showcasing the shadow puppet forms of India in Hangzhou, China.

·    Redesigning the traditional Pandal building techniques of Bengal to make knock down, transportable         versions that can be erected anywhere in the world as PUBLIC ART without involving the transportation of the labour force. This project is in the pipeline with partners in UK

·    Co-curator at the MAKE ART STOP AIDS exhibition, opening in Los Angeles in Feb 2008. It features work from Brazil, South Africa , India and the US  and will travel to the 4 regions .

·    Invitee at Ford Foundation seminar for Impact Assessment of Foundations, in St Petersburg, Russia

·    Lecture Demonstration on contemporary installations created by Traditional artisans, using traditional materials in Auckland and Wellington , New Zealand.

  

2006 

·    Cultural Consultant to Pina Bausch, Germany for the creation of Bamboo Dreams piece”, during her visit to India.

·    Scroll painting workshops and lecture- demonstration on the ancient story telling form of Bengal in Auckland  and Wellington ,New Zealand.

·    Designing and creating five 9 ft high ,3 dimensional “Bula di  “ Mascots for HIV awareness using the Chandannagore Bulb techniques for Durga Puja in Calcutta to be viewed by over a million people over 5 days.

·    Invitee at Ford Foundation International Initiative for Social Philanthropy meeting, Dakar, Senegal and Salvador, Brazil

·    Design, Workshop and Implementation of Traditional Scrolls as communication tools for      HIV awareness in   Medinipur and Sundarbans , West Bengal in collaboration with Dr. David  Gere, UCLA. USA.

     

2005

·    Lecture- demonstration of muslin weaving and sculpture crafts with master craftsmen in Madrid, for CASA ASIA

·    Installation in the form of Giant Goddess Kali, and ritual Horse with master artisans in Barcelona for CASA ASIA

·    Co- Curating an exhibition of HIV related Art works at UCLA, Los Angeles with work from USA, South Africa and Brazil and India-opening Dec1st, 2006.

·    Recreating the Electric bulb “Bajra”, the peacock Boat to be displayed under Hungerford Bridge by the Thames River, UK.

·    Electric light installation at Blackpool, UK to celebrate 125 years of illumination in the Chandannagore style.  

·    Invitee to Ford Foundation IISP initiative at Budapest Puerto Rico.         

 

2004

·    Speaker at the World Aids Day Conference at UCLA on “Make Arts Stop Aids”, in December 2004

·    A two-week presentation by The Giant Animal Puppets of Orissa, in New Zealand through a proscenium presentation, Walkabout, and Workshops, in October 2004, supported by ICCR

·    Indian representative for the Crafts industry at Asia Business week at Milan, Italy October 2004 as part of the Government delegation.

·    Presenting a project at the International Seminar on Arts and Aids supported by the UNAIDS foundation and in partnership with Prof. David Gere, based on Scroll Paintings of Bengal, in July 2004

 

2003:

·    Speaker at an International Conference on access to Heritage and Environment, Presented by Interculture, Harewood House, Barbados Museum ,English Heritage

·    Speaker at On route-International Carnival Conference in SOAS, London,

·    Speaker at National Mela Conference at Bradford, in UK,

·    Commissioned to create a Mughal temporary space 24mt x 8 mtx 6mt with the Brodsworth Hall in the backdrop using indigenous Marquee building techniques of Bengal using cotton cloth, coir rope and bamboo for the Chintz Yatra, UK, August 2003.

·    Commissioned to design and create the center piece for the Mayor’s Thames Festival, London, an illuminated sculpture in the shape of a7 mt X3 mt mythical Boat- Bajra, in September 2003

·    A month-long Workshops with a traditional artisan for the Asia Alive project at the Asian Art Museum, in the USA, in Nov,2003. Traditional artisans of India, the trends in craftsmanship and design, will be the primary focus using SHOLA sculpture as a medium.

·    Co curated the first Calcutta Carnival with 150 costumes of the Thames Carnival, London and 500 additional Folk performers and school children, on 14^th December,2003 with the British High Commission and Kinetika of London.

 

2002:

·    In collaboration with an American partner, instituted a scholarship for 2 women painters and printmakers to visit Vermont Art Center, USA each year for a month-long training programme. This will be a recurring grant.

·    Conducted performances –workshops with Giant Animal Puppets of Orissa for the Visions International Festival, Brighton UK, October 2002.

·    Performances –Workshops at Belfast for the Belfast Queens International   Festival.

·    Presented a   4-day seminar-workshop on the traditional playing cards of India, called Gangifa, with the last set of surviving   artisan-participants from Bengal and Maharashtra at Sawantwadi, near Goa. A   panel of specialists, collectors, and designers were present to discuss and generate new ideas regarding the future application of this form.

 

2001:

·    A set of Electric Light Installations using animated miniature electric bulbs on a bamboo grid  in the style of Chandanagore, West Bengal, mounted in Belfast , N.Ireland in November 2001 ,as a part of the Belfast Festival ,in the Queens Gallery. This is the first initiative to take this outdoor street art to an art form that can be exhibited in a gallery and museum. Several community outreach workshops, and lecture demonstrations were organized  by the Queens University.

·    In collaboration with the National Museums of Scotland, in Edinburgh  extensive workshops with a group of 5 Indian performers/craft persons October 2001in Edinburgh on the theme of Dushera resulting in the creation of a 40 foot Ravana.

·    A series of Pottery, Block printing/Tie -dye workshops with rural artisans and city children at a premium school in Calcutta. This is part of an initiative to launch an “experience your heritage “ programme 

·    Consultant for a Dutch group, Planet Junior, to identify talented under priviledged children in the field of Dance Music, theatre and other performances to create a collaborative work under an international Art director to tour South Africa, Holland, India etc.

·    Development and display of HIV-Aids Communication tools using traditional folk painting and music For the American Government for use in rural India. 

·    Participated in a Workshop -Seminar conducted for Festival managers and Art presenters in April 2001,at Calcutta in collaboration with Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta ,Visiting Arts -UK,and the British Council.

·    Presented the the opening event of the Kala Ghoda Festival at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Bombay, in February 2001with 17 Giant Puppets from Eastern India and drummers from Kerela.

 

 

2000:

·    Invited by the Charles Wallace Trust, Visiting Arts and British Council to visit the Edinburgh Festival, to participate in a seminar resulting in  India focus  activities at the Edinburgh Festivals and at the Manchester Games in 2002.

 

1999:

 

·    Independently organized a 10-day mega-event to present 500 years of rural Bengal in December to celebrate the millenium in conjunction with the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Tata Steel.

·    Organized a 7-day exhibition and sale of textiles representing the major weaving styles of India

·    Coordinated the Nature Bazaar - an exhibition of eco-friendly handicrafts at Delhi aimed at promoting the production and consumption of environmentally healthy products.

·    Existent in the Upper Hooghly area in the 16th and 17th century with the goal of creating a source of income for the women of the region.

 

1997

 

·    Organized the Philadelphia Exposition - a presentation that simulated a Bengal village with live artisans and demonstrations of Craft for an American audience, at Philadelphia, USA

·    Presented Artisans in Live demonstration and sale of Crafts at the Philadelphia –Museum of Art, to commemorate 50 years of Indian Independence

 

1996:

·    Organized Exposition of Crafts of East India with live demonstration by Master crafts persons, in Houston, USA

 

1995:

·    Actively revived authentic modes of traditional embroidery technique of Kantha. Subsequently, a training centre with urban women was set up.

·    Coordinated the creative activities of a group of Krishnanagar idol-makers to produce a permanent exhibit for the Peabody Museum in Salem, USA.

 

1994:

·    Participated in Design and Product Development Conference in Kuala Lumpur as an Indian representative. This was a global seminar organized by the Malaysian Crafts Council. Promoted Bengal textiles to major European buyers such as Habitat and Liberty, London

 

1988:

·    Toured Japan extensively with a group of six Crafts persons representing the lesser known Crafts of India such as Mithila art of Bihar for The Festival of India

 

1987:

· Organized the first ever Fund raiser presenting maestros of Indian Classical music in a theme show for the crafts persons relief fund, Eastern India. Sham –e Avadh, Subh e – Benaras featuring Bismillah Khan, Kishan Maharaj, Giirija Devi, Birju Maharaj etc.

 

1985:

·    Toured USA for the Festival of India with renowned exponents of Indian Classical music for the Festival of India in the capacity of accompanying vocalist.