Jayeeta Chatterjee

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Nakshi-Kantha on woodcut print on recycled clothes

A five-layer cloth weaved into each other by the traditional Kantha embroidery and prints in woodcut are used in three of the layers for elements of the subjective repertoire. Reuse of cloth has been done. Upholding the signature of the series based on woodcut print (which this is a part of), I propose to present this age-old existing art which to our misfortune would otherwise, cease to exist. This practice is mainly done by the Muslim women in some of the rural villages(Mahidapur, Lohagar, Mangaldihi, Sattor, Moldanga) of district Birbhum of West Bengal. Nakshi-Kantha is a traditional Bengali quilt that shows the class, caste, socio-economical situation, geographical differences, and Bengali culture. Through Kantha homemakers weave their day-to-day life’s stories, mythological stories, natures, they express themselves to Kantha. My works are inspired by them. Images of my works depict the inter aura of a house interior parallelly laying bare the self of the person residing on it. Having grown up in a middle-class suburban family, my experiences of every unsolved riddle have made their way into the works. Issues within the walls, life of middle-class women have been the core elements of my works. Humans from the beginning of time, have interacted to shape their souls and further intervened to shape their space. The monotones symbolize the trails left bare comfort of our eyes, still camouflaging themselves whatever is not seen has to be made seen.