WHEN ART RUNS IN YOUR BLOOD

Jaipur is synonymous with rare and ancient arts and crafts. RIAAN JACOB GEORGE spent a couple of days in the Pink City, tracking down some of its most talented and elusive artisans, for whom their respective crafts are as good as family heirlooms.

- RIAAN JACOB GEORGE

HAVE YOU EVER wondered what goes behind creating those wooden blocks that print patterns on your clothes? Have you ever traced back the origins of meenakari jewellery beyond glitzy urban boutiques? Did you know that the artisan behind a simple string puppet comes from a family of puppet makers? In my attempt to meet some of these unsung heroes of Jaipur's traditional art scene, I navigated some of the city's dustiest alleys earlier this year. For company, I had experiences curator Kartik Gaggar, whose organisation, Rajasthan Studio, is bridging the gap between the state's master craftspersons and travellers by offering the latter a host of art experiences. This not only boosts visibility for the artisans but also acts as an additional source of income for them, besides adding another novel tour option to Rajasthan's already impressive repertoire.

A NEIGHBOURHOOD OF PUPPET MAKERS