A contemporary piece of painting, with abstract patterns and varying gradations of coloring. It’s not just the canvas that holds this artwork, weaver Prasida Chavan redefines the work in fabric as well, traditional handloom in tow. It is a large tapestry, on which scores and marks in monochrome can be seen. A yellow piece of cotton fabric is spread out next to it with a much more complicated work on it. Revisiting the way of contemporary artists’ on fabric, has been her hobby for decades. Till date, Prasida has worked with known names like AV Ilango, the late Surya Prakash and others, apart from Bhagwan Chavan her husband.
Prasida’s passion for weaving took shape long ago — as a teenger in Calicut in 1991. Immediately after her Class X exams, overcome by the want to do something ‘different’ and related to visual art, she joined Tasara, a weaving school in Kozhikode. This experience gave way to an opportunity for all trainees to collaborate with contemporary and traditional artists from around the country. This is also when Prasida met her husband. “It was in Tasara that I started doing tapestry work. Till date, the emulation I had done for Bhagwan Chavan during that workshop is my favorite,” she says.
After moving to Chennai in 1993 with her husband, Prasida took a break. In 1996, she ventured back, by procuring a loom from Kanchipuram with help from Rajaji Bhavan. Since then, she has been concentrating on tapestry, with the occasional exceptions of weaving classes and workshops. She explains the process of this unusual collaboration between weaving and art: “It is a joint venture: the artist and weaver sit together and discuss. The artist usually explains the different shades of the colours used in the painting and which yarn would need which colour. We usually work on cotton yarns.”
In workshops, however, the process is different: “I have box looms of four different sizes. And I use old fabric, like unused saris and discarded fabric and cut them into ribbons to be used for weaving. They can make it into table and floor mats, and other items of utility.” The participants are also given an introduction to the different techniques of weaving.
The colours used, though, are chemical pigments. Prasida is working towards a facility that will change this pattern and use natural colours. “Back when I was training, I remember using colours from mehendi leaves, hibiscus flowers and red lucky seeds. They had a facility to extract them. I am also planning to build such a facility and make the shift soon,” she continues.
Prasida’s home in Cholamandal artist’s village houses one traditional loom and a host of other box and frame looms, “if people want to buy the looms, they can do that,” she says.
A weaving workshop led by Prasida will be conducted on June 1, Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm at Muktha, 27, Cholamandal Artists Village, Injambakkam. For details, contact 9449205647.