The Master of Drapes

Fashion grandee Tarun Tahiliani speaks about his upcoming craft showcase in Venice and his recent commemorative volume

- Geetika Sachdev

"I think some of the best things in life happen by accident," says celebrated couturier Tarun Tahiliani. Over the past three decades of his illustrious run, he has scripted several milestones-each of which can be credited for reinforcing the 'India Modern' aesthetic much before it became a buzzword.

Tahiliani's design language has always been rooted in Indian craft. So it's hardly surprising that one of his works-a Pichwai called "The Shikargah'-that was earlier showcased at the India Art Fair 2024 will now be part of the Homo Faber exhibition in Venice in September during the biennale season.

"The Shikargah' is akin to the mythical Garden of Eden, as observed through intricately detailed jaalis on a door framing its archway. Within this enchanting scene, fantastical flora and fauna harmoniously co-exist. It employs techniques like the Dob (the art of embroidering on paper or cardboard inserts) alongside French knots, mother-of-pearl hand carving and layering. "Embroidery represents the highest form of Indian craft, and our craftsmen are the best in the world. It's also partly economic because a lot of people from villages do not get to go to school...so this is the traditional craft of surface embellishment," says Tahiliani.