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| | Inspired
by the South Asian paintings and manuscripts she treated at the Metropolitan Museum
of Art, Sandhya
Jain decided to enter
the competition for a Fulbright
Scholarship to India
to study the crafts of India in person. During her nine months in India, she traveled
to Goa, Kerala, Kanyakumari, Bombay, Jaipur, Kangra, and New Delhi. In each city
she met with artists and craftspeople who continue to weave textiles, make paper,
and cut gems by hand, and she learned how to tell the difference between handmade
and machine-made in each of these areas. She examined and treated antique objects
as well as met with modern artists faithful to the traditional techniques.
An even deeper appreciation for handicrafts developed from this research.
As the fashion market becomes increasingly globalized, the traditional hand-crafts
of India are in danger of being displaced by cheap imitations. Part of Xari's
mission is to support the local craftsperson and give them a reason to pass on
these techniques to the next generation. |
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