Shivpriya Bajpai explores the transformation of revival and restoration of art with establishments like the Archaeological Survey of India, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), and others in the latest edition of Bazaar India
An excerpt:
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Deepthi Sasidharan, art historian and director of Eka Resources, which specialises in planning and creating archives, museums and cultural complexes, adds that the industry of art conservation has grown significantly in the last two decades. “Today, India has world-class professionals and of course, the awareness has also increased tremendously. For instance, the people who collect works of art on paper are informed and store them in acid-free boxes. Recently, a client had left a painting exposed to rain near an open window, and he immediately sent it to a conservator for remedial action. Even photographs and textiles damaged by stains or insect attacks are now salvageable.”
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THE ART OF STORYTELLING
Storytelling in an exhibition is effective if it is able to evoke an emotive response for its diverse audiences. In Deepthi’s opinion, this is achievable through a gamut of possibilities, but impactful storytelling depends on meticulous research, subject knowledge, and an ability to connect with the audience. “At the Rezwan Razack Museum for Indian Paper Money in Bengaluru for example, we communicate the hidden security features in a banknote—this makes it fun and visitors often pull out a currency note to see if what they have newly learnt is true. At the Anokhi Museum of Blockprinting in Jaipur, visitors can block print their own cloth, bringing home very effectively the story of the process,” she shares.…