Kala Tarang

Talk on Indian Folk Art
30th May, 10.30- 11.30am PDT

Kala Tarang is starting its chapter in the US with a talk by Sangeeta on Indian Folk Art. Join her as she discusses the evolution of Folk art alongside fine art and how it is flourishing these fast changing times!

Registration link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsf-CurTwtG9LGaUFBheqy4vctwJGy3wUc

Kala Tarang updated their business hours.

Kala Tarang updated their website address.

Kala Tarang Open House
25-28th April, 11am - 5pm
With appointment only

Kala Tarang is delighted to invite everyone to a open house from 25th (Monday) to 28th (Thursday) April in our warehouse on Keppel Road. Saris, bags, folk art, pottery footwear, metal work and lots more will be on display.

We will have to restrict numbers in every half an hour slot to comply with safe distancing requirements, so visits will have to be by appointment. Do message at +65 9236 1451/ [email protected] to let me know what time you plan to come. I will send the address and directions.

Kala Tarang had its first exhibition in 2008 and we have had a delightful time curating Indian craft for patrons in Singapore. Exhibitions have been fun affairs with a mix of workshops by grassroots artisans and handloom designers, craft talks and of course the very popular Dastkar Sari exhibitions and talks by the incomparable Laila Tyabji.

The pandemic forced us to pause our exhibitions but we have been shown much love by craft enthusiasts who bought our products online or offline from our little office space. And now we start a new chapter. With a heavy heart I am moving out of Singapore, a place I have called home for 15+ years. While I try to figure out the logistics of continuing to sell in Singapore through online means and through exhibitions, I will not be having an exhibition this year.

Kala Tarang will continue.. maybe in a different format. Do keep following us on Facebook / Instagram - We will keep updating our plans there.

I hope to see many of you next week (Mon - Thu). You can pick up things you have missed out on and we will get to say our farewells - temporary of course.

Hand moulded, hand painted Khurja pottery Jugs and “spoon rests” from Uttar Pradesh, India.
Spoon rests can be used on table or anywhere in the kitchen. Heat resistant. Dishwasher safe.

1st and 2nd Jugs
Price: SGD46/-
Vol: 1.8L
Ht:18cm
Weight (when empty): 1.1kg

3rd Jug
Price: SGD70/-
Vol: 4.3L
Ht:26cm
Weight (when empty): 2.3kg

Spoon Rests
Price: SGD46/-
Length : 23.5cm
Dia: 13cm (at the widest)

Happy 2022 everyone!

Hand-stitched leather footwear from India. Price: SGD30/- per pair.
For sale in Singapore only.

We are back with these simple yet colorful slippers. They are comfortable, good for daily use and survive the rain well.

These are available from EU sizes 36, 38, 40 and 42.
DM us if you like something and and we will send you the photos of the designs available in the size that you want 😊.

Quirky accessories in Ladakh beadwork craft from India. Prices and sizes as mentioned in photos.

Beadwork combined with use of precious and semi-precious stones was popular in Ladakh (Kashmir, India) and used to create jewellery and adorn the clothes of royalty. Today, the craftspeople have adapted to modern needs and use this craft with beads and chips of recycled semi-precious stones to create items to regular use.

Ladakh Beadwork Boxes:
For sale in Singapore only

Available in 3 sizes:
Big (Dia-16cm, Ht-8cm) SGD 49/-
Medium ( Dia-11cm, Ht-7cm) SGD 31/-
Small (Dia- 9cm, Ht-6cm) SGD 25/-

Beadwork combined with use of precious and semi-precious stones was popular in Ladakh (Kashmir, India) and used to create jewellery and adorn the clothes of royalty. Today, the craftspeople have adapted to modern needs and use this craft with beads and chips of recycled semi-precious stones to create items to regular use.
These quirky boxes will add a pop of colour to your home!

Comfortable and easy wear pants by . Linen and Khadi.

Mugs and cups of different shapes, sizes and colors. All handmade, lead-free and microwave safe.

Cotton (Muslin) stoles with handwoven Jamdani weave from Bengal, India. Light and summery these are perfect for summery weather !

Cyclists - Dhokra Figurines (From Orissa, India)
Size: 14cm tall and 12cm wide
Price: SGD74/- each (For sale in Singapore only)

Dhokra - the lost wax technique of metal casting is said to be practised in India since 3BCE in central India. This skill intensive handicraft process uses an alloy of non-ferrous metals to create objects with an antique-y finish.

Gajji Silk Sari with Bandhini tie and dye on the body and Ajrakh block print on pallu and blouse piece (last photo). A striking sari with deep purple body which is both easy to wear and perfect for all occasions!
For sale in Singapore only.

Cotton stoles with quirky block prints embellished with Sujini embroidery from Bihar (India).

For sale in Singapore only.

Silk and cotton Ajrakh block print dresses by . For Sale in Singapore only.

Jamdani Sarees (Cotton)

Price: SGD137/- (black and majenta)
Price: SGD329/- (black and beige)

Handwoven Jamdani saris from Bengal, India. The 1st sari is handwoven by Ramanand Basak with motifs (in Jamdani technique) in majenta and white on a black body. The motifs on the pallu are floral and the body of the sari has small fish motifs all over.
The second sari is also in cotton with a tussar section in the pallu. The sari with traditional Jamdani motifs in the pallu and body, is an elegant combination of shades of black and brown.

Jamdani Sarees (Cotton)

Price: SGD159/- (black and beige)
Price: SGD200/- (black, beige, red and green)

Handwoven cotton Jamdani saris from Bengal, India. Both saris have elaborate floral motifs on the pallu and smaller motifs all across the body. The black and beige sari has a light brown border. The second sari with multi-coloured motifs and a border or floral motifs too.

Kutchi Embroidery Art (Inamel)
Size: 24 x 36inches
Price: SGD199/-

Sujini Embroidery Art
Size: 12x 18inches
Price: SGD99/-

Traditional regional embroideries, often done by women have not only been a source of income for them but also an expression of their creativity and world view. Kala Tarang brings to you to embroidery art pieces from west and east of India!

The first piece is a representation of Aina Mahal Palace (spelt ‘Ina mel’ in the wall hanging ) in Bhuj, Gujarat, India. The piece is the embroidery artist’s depiction of the famous ‘palace of mirrors’ as it was in the past, with the ‘King’ and ‘Queen’ shown in the front flanked by the auspicious ‘Tulsi’ plants. The piece is created by Kutchi embroidery artist using a mix of various kutchi embroideries.

The second piece made using the Sujini embroidery from Bihar, India is a representation of women from different walks from life. The piece shows women in both urban and rural setups performing a wide range of tasks thus underlining the presence of women in all economic activities.

Handwoven Sujani Quilts ( created entirely on handlooms । Machine-washable)

Prices:
Junior (45x60”): SGD114/-
Single (60 x 90”): SGD149/-
Double (90x110”): SGD199/- For sale in Singapore only.

Sujani weaving is a traditional handcrafted quilt from the city of Bharuch in the western Indian state of Gujarat. The distinctive feature of this craft is that it is stuffed with cotton fibre in small squares while it is being woven on the loom. Unlike other quilts it is not made by stuffing cotton between 2 layers of cotton sheets and later stitched with hand or machine.
For making of this quilt, two weavers sit at either ends and operate the loom. A shuttle of two colours is put in the warp threads with the aim of turning the warp and the weft. Thus the entire quilt is woven not stitched.
Legend goes that this craft came to Bharuch in the 1860s when an Assamese craftsman taught the skills to a Bharuch native while they were both prisoners of the British government in the Andaman Jail. This craft is languishing today with very few craftsmen practising this skilled trade. Sujani Looms has been working with these craftsmen and trying to revive this craft with innovative colours and designs.

If indigo floats your boat 😀, then here is a small collection of indigo apparel by Paromita Banerjee! All clothes are for sale in Singapore only.

Those who have been following us for a while know of our association with handloom designer Paromita Banerjee. Her work with handloom, natural dyes, khadi and upcycling is a perfect combination of sustainability and classic aesthetics. You can choose from the garments shown in our photos or check her insta ( ) for more options!

Sanjhi Art (Traditional Paper cutting Art)
Size: 27x36cm
Price:
Dancing Girl: SGD89/-
Tree: SGD112/-

Sanjhi, the art of hand cutting designs on paper, persisted and flourished mainly in the community of the Vaishnavs (followers of Lord Vishnu and Krishna) across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Today it survives as a typical art of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, the legendary home of Lord Krishna.
The speciality of this art is that the paper cuttings are made without any previous sketching or tracing. The themes included Radha-Krishna Lila and also scenes from the daily life. In the ancient times, these cut-outs were used for interior and structural decoration and also to impart graphic impressions on walls. Experiments were done not only in composition but also in modes of applying the paper cutting to impart impressions. Perhaps the most unique way in which these paper cutting were sometimes used was for the impression on water. A large vessel was filled with water and then a paper cutting was carefully placed on the surface of it. Then it was covered with powdered pigment called abir, and the paper cutting was removed very carefully so the picture was stencilled on the surface of water. The effect, though transitory, was entirely other worldly.
The cutting process requires enormous skill, concentration and patience, and the fine detail is achieved with specially designed scissors. Of late, striding latticework patterns of Mughal origin as well as more contemporary themes have been introduced to widen the repertoire.

Blue Pottery items
Microwave and Dishwasher safe
Lead free

Prices:
Oil/Dressing Pot : SGD25/-
Small Pot: SGD32/-
Small Jar Set - SGD45/-
Earrings : SGD20/- (per pair)

Sizes:
Oil/Dressing Pot : Ht: 15cm , Vol: 250ml
Small Pot: Ht: 8cm, Vol: 250ml
Each Jar of Set - Ht: 6cm (each jar), Vol: 150cm
Earrings : About 5cm (the coloured part)

Blue Pottery, from Jaipur, dates back to early 19th Century . This style is unique because instead of using the traditional clay, it makes the dough from a mix of other naturally available minerals which is hand mounded into various shapes. Colours are achieved by painting with mineral oxides which turn into bright colours during the baking process.

Ikat Silk Sari Handwoven in Orissa, India
Price: SGD210/- (For sale in Singapore only)

This Ikat sari has deep red body with thin indigo checks. It has a double layer of the classic temple border (done in Ikat) and the pallu has elaborate floral motifs done in traditional Orissa Ikat style.

The silk fabric is light and easy to manage and the red and indigo make it perfect for an elegant evening out!

Madhubani Art
Dashavatar Reinterpreted with Shakti!
Size: 22 x 30 inches (unframed)
Price: SGD170/- (For sale in Singapore only)

This Madhubani painting by Ambika Devi is a very interesting reinterpretation of Hindu mythology’s Dashavatar where Lord Vishnu is replaced with Shakti. You will see all the 10 reincarnations of Vishnu reimagined with Shakti as the central figure. While the 9 avatars are in line with the known imageries (Parashuram with the familiar beard), it is with the 10th avatar, Kalki ( the avatar which many argue has not been realized yet) that one sees a divergence. Most pictorial representations of Kalki show him as a warrior, while in this painting the 10th avatar of Shakti shows her nurturing the next generation. Maybe the artist is indicating the problems of the world will be better solved with love and care for each other rather than war and bloodshed.

We are absolutely delighted to see women artists use traditional folk art to reconceptualise established narratives and give them such a modern twist!

2 handwoven stoles with the lovely Jamdani weave from Bengal, India
Cotton Stole (Teal Colour with white motifs)
Size: 250cm by 85cm
Price: SGD65/- (For sale in Singapore only)

Silk Stole (White Colour with multi coloured motifs)
Size: 250cm by 95cm
Price: SGD100/- (For sale in Singapore only)

The cotton stole is a lovely teal colour woven with blue and green yarn, with the extra weft (Jamdani) motifs in white. The white stole in silk has multi coloured ‘cloud like’ motifs all over the body with floral motifs in the borders. Both stoles showcase Jamdani motifs in all their light and shadowy glory perfect for summery weather.