The Chanakya Foundation and Karishma Swali presents ‘Cosmic Garden’, a Collateral Event of the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
Madhvi Parekh, Flying Goddess, 2022. Acrylic on Canvas, 153 x 183cm. Photographer: Abner Fernandes. Private Collection. Courtesy the artist and Chanakya Foundation.© Madhvi Parekh
The exhibition ‘Cosmic Garden’ emerges from an ongoing fertile exchange between Indian artists Madhvi Parekh, Manu Parekh, and Karishma Swali and the Chanakya School of Craft, a non-profit institution committed to the emancipation of women through craft.
A Collateral Event of the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, the exhibition honours the pluralistic beauty of India’s cultural heritage, featuring paintings and sculptures by Madhvi Parekh and Manu Parekh and the evolution of their practice into a third interdisciplinary medium – hand-embroidery – presented through crafted works and sculptures created by the Chanakya School of Craft and its Creative Director Karishma Swali.
This carefully curated series of works embraces a multidisciplinary approach, dismantling hierarchies between the arts, roles, and genres. The project seeks to re-evaluate the mutual relationship between women and embroidery, transcending the confines of domesticity by bringing hand embroidery into the public sphere.
Madhvi Parekh’s paintings depict formidable female deities surrounded by celestial beings and symbolic representations inspired by Indian mythology. Unfolding like a narrative, she tailors each work to its required scale, expanding from a singular image into expansive, existential narratives. By blending childhood memories, folk motifs, legends, and figures with abstract subjects, Madhvi celebrates the profound connection between humans and the divine.
In contrast, Manu Parekh’s work, which is also influenced by Indian cultural traditions, incorporates aspects of Western modernism and abstract expressionism. His vibrant compositions, characterised by broken lines, stripes, crosses, and floral motifs, embody the cosmic harmony of masculine and feminine energies. Through his intuitive use of colour and bold lines, he experiments with vibrant abstractions, sexual imagery, and figuration. His artistic responses extend not only to the influences of nature but also to the nuances of daily life and social issues.
Just as both artists celebrate Indian ancestral traditions and myths, where the spiritual dimension serves as a potent imaginative and creative device, the interdisciplinary works created by Karishma Swali and the Chanakya School of Craft transcend conventional boundaries to carve out an artistic language firmly rooted in collective cultural histories.
Drawing upon that language – first unveiled at the Dior Spring Summer 2022 haute couture presentation – these new works are brought to life through meticulous needlework embroidery and handcraft techniques, utilising organic materials like raw linen, jute, silk, and cotton to capture the purity of the artists” and Karishma Swali’sSwali’s aligned vision. Affirming a practice rooted in a dialogue that redefines the roles of both artist and artisan, these three-dimensional works visually encapsulate a true artistic statement, blurring the boundaries between art and craft.
Over her 25-year career, Karishma Swali has dedicated her efforts to preserving India’s cultural heritage through craft excellence. Under the guidance of Maria Grazia Chiuri, Creative Director of the Dior women’s collection, Chanakya Foundation co-founder Karishma Swali established the Chanakya School of Craft in 2016 to help women harness the power of craft to address pressing societal challenges. The school’s guiding mission is to safeguard India’s cultural heritage and unlock the craft’s infinite potential. The school has taught over 1000 women of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds, forming a strong community of skilled women.
Curated by Maria Alicata and Paola Ugolini and held at Salone Verde – Art & Social Club in the historic Venetian area of Rialto, ‘Cosmic Garden’ celebrates the affirmation of a new language that highlights women’s transformative energy, giving rise to innovative forms from pre-existing foundations.
Dior supports ‘Cosmic Garden’, which illuminates the vital role of local communities in preserving the rich, diverse essence of Indian traditions.
For more information, please visit Chanakya Foundation.
