Aadi Anant:Creative Continnum & Unsung Masters [Hardcover] Sushma K. Bahl

Aadi Anant documents the life and work of some 100 artisans from across India, spanning nearly 50 stylistic genres. Based on field visits and personal interactions with the featured masters in their own working environment and space, the narrative names and figures the hitherto unsigned and unsung heroes of hand-crafted master pieces, bringing their creators onto the center stage of art domain. Putting their hands, heart and soul into their incredible creations and working with readily available local material using basic tools and facilities, the artists can be seen to breathe life into their craft. Creating artifacts for reverence, aesthetic pleasure, celebration adornment, functional use and for self-sustenance, the artisans innovate to carry forward the unique art forms passed on to them through generations in a continuum Encompassing folk and tribal arts and crafts, the book focuses on the traditions and socio-economic structures within which the artists operate It also highlights the various State and NGO initiatives aimed at skill development, design enhancement and marketing to support innovation and socio-economic development of the largely self-employed artisans and their crafts.