Quilt artists reflect through fabric

At The Square Inch, a one-stop destination for needlecraft enthusiasts since 2014, co-founders of the Quilt India Foundation, Tina Katwal and Varsha Sundararajan, are gearing up for their yearly thematic quilt exhibition. This year’s showcase brings unneurotic 58 entries by participants aged betwixt 8 and 80. Located successful Thiruvanmiyur, the centre is known for its bespoke quilts and its regular quilting workshops.

“This year, the entries were judged by Prabha Narasimhan, a Chennai-based textile designer, and the winners volition beryllium announced astatine the exhibition, which opens connected January 23,” says Tina. Participants were fixed a bundle of 8 otherwise coloured fabrics and 12 weeks to implicit their work. “Each quilt had to measurement 20 x 20 inches and usage astatine slightest 50% of the cloth provided. Unified by the taxable Reflect, the works explored reflection successful its galore forms, optical, emotional, intelligence and social, offering viewers a visually affluent and contemplative experience,” explains Varsha.

A item of the accumulation is the show of Double Wedding Ring quilts and Rolling Waves quilts, shown successful India for the archetypal time. While the erstwhile draws connected the symbolism of emotion and unity, the second has an illusion of fluid movement, created wholly from straight-edged cloth pieces. As visitors determination done the exhibition, they volition beryllium met with a scope of emotions and creator perspectives, with each quilt distinguished by its ain pattern, temper and interpretation.

“The imaginativeness down this accumulation is to make awareness, animate and amended the nationalist astir quilting arsenic an creation form. It is fascinating to spot the consistency and individuality with which artists person approached the theme,” says Varsha. She adds that quilting is simply a meditative signifier and an immensely peaceful and fulfilling acquisition for its practitioners.

Following the four-day exhibition, the quilts volition question to different creation quilt shows crossed India and overseas. Visitors tin besides browse and acquisition a assortment of quilted products, including bags, laptop cases, tote bags, blankets and array runners.

@Sri Sankara Hall, Alwarpet. On January 23 , 4pm to 8pm, January 24 and 25 from 11am to 8pm, and January 26 from 11am to 6pm. Entry is free. For details, telephone 9551118323.