By Gurdip SinghSingapore, Dec 7 (PTI) An exhibition of some 140 Indianrare traditional artefacts, some dating back to 5,000 years,opened in here today with a minister urging Singaporeans tovisit it and witness the evolution of artistic and craftingtraditions across generations.
The highlight of the exhibition is a collection of rareartefacts from the Indus Valley Civilisation loaned by theNational Museum of India.
Each piece tells a story and will fascinate with itsexquisite designs, including elaborate ancient Indus andBrahmi scripts and familiar motifs in Indian crafts such asthe lotus and the mango, said the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC)which is hosting the exhibition till June 30.
The IHC has engaged 15 expert craftspeople from India tooffer visitors an opportunity to witness ancient crafts beingpracticed up close, through fortnightly demonstrations.
Some of the ancient craft traditions include bidri - acraft that has its beginnings in the 14th and 15th centuries -where artists etch intricate designs and calligraphy on metalsurfaces before filling them in with fine silver wires.
They will also demonstrate ancient skill of leatherpuppet making, which are then used in shadow puppetryperformances of great Indian epics such as the Ramanyana.
The annual exhibition is themed: Symbols and Scripts: TheLanguage of Craft.
The IHC CultureFest 2017, being held along theexhibition, explores the theme of Rasa, or aesthetics, inIndian tradition.
"Traditional craftsmanship embodies practices that havebeen passed down from our ancestors. This special exhibitionat the Indian Heritage Centre showcases rare artefacts thatrepresent the evolution of artistic and crafting traditionsacross generations," Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Communityand Youth, said yesterday during the launch of the exhibition.
"I encourage Singaporeans to visit this exhibition andlearn more about this important part of our intangiblecultural heritage," said Fu.
"Through the artefacts featured in the exhibition, wecelebrate the rich and diverse heritage of the Indiancommunity in Singapore, as well as that of the larger globalIndian diaspora," elaborated Trudy Loh, Director of HeritageInstitutions at the National Heritage Board, parent group ofIHC. PTI GS AMS AKJAMS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.