The pursuit of gold amidst the textiles, arts and architecture of Jodhpur.
20 Jan 2021 – Bangalore International Centre
From the 15th century onwards the Rathores of Marwar have had Mehrangarh Fort at Jodhpur as the citadel of their kingdom with its art and architecture shaping their cultural identity within Rajasthan. Amidst the glories of their rich material culture, one aspect that is seldom remarked upon is the complexes’ use of gold and gilt. This talk explores the application of gilt across the complex, from its buildings to its rich holdings of paintings, object-d-art, costumes and textiles. The case for Jodhpur in its use of gilt is to try and understand why one of India’s best kept museums (Mehrangarh Fort Museum) and studied collections has not had more attention paid to a material that gleams across almost all forms of its art? The museum’s unrivalled collection of historic paintings and textiles shall provide a visual anchor to this exploration. The talk also hopes to draw attention to the lack of attention being made to the study of materiality across the arts of India, both past and present.
Presented by The Art of Gold– Art of Gold is a series of lectures, symposia and events initiated by Swati & Sunaina Gold, to generate dialogues on the various artistic forms of gold.
In collaboration with:
Eka Cultural Resources and Research was set up in 2009 to address the increasing need for a professional organisation within the culture and heritage industry.
Mehrangarh Museum Trust was established in 1972 by the 36th Custodian of Marwar- Jodhpur, H. H. Maharaja Gaj Singhji to make the fort come alive for visitors. The Museum displays one of the most important and best preserved collections of fine and applied arts from the Mughal period of Indian history, during which the Rathore rulers of Jodhpur maintained close links with the Mughal Emperors.
Culturebagh is a platform to encourage cross-disciplinary discourse. It is supported by Chatterjee & Lal, a Mumbai-based gallery for contemporary art and historical material.
The Yarn Club is an initiative by Apparao Galleries that curates talks and activities that explore the rich heritage of the textile traditions of India. It is a platform to share developments and meet other textile enthusiasts while keeping abreast of policy changes and being inspired by the magic of the textiles of India.