Mid-century Madras: Creative Dialogues in Art, Craft and Industry

The question of what it meant to be progressive, in thought and form, was a pressing one in the decades following Independence. This exhibition offers an insight into a moment when diverse players converged in mid-twentieth century Madras (now Chennai) to participate in this discussion, enriching the aesthetic and cultural scenario. Of central importance was the Department of Industries, the body managing the School of Arts and Crafts, Madras and also taking initiatives to encourage industries in the region. Simultaneously, at the national level, the need for economic development resulted in the formulation of strategies and governmental bodies that channelised growth in various sectors.

Mid-century Madras: Creative Dialogues in Art, Craft and Industry presents objects in ceramics, textiles and metal that emerged both directly and indirectly as a result of steps taken to improve artistic industries and craft production in the Madras region. These exhibits speak of a sensibility shaped by ideas of utility, popular appeal, beauty, marketability, technical knowledge and economy.

Emerging from governmental and private initiatives, the ceramics that are on view here were successful attempts to tap into the local artistic and material resources. These products filled a gap in the market for ceramicware while also providing avenues of employment; especially for art students who did not have many career options then.

Also featured in the exhibition are textiles, as also samples of artworks, from the artists’ commune of the Cholamandal Artists’ Village that demonstrate the way in which craft and art intertwined to enrich each other. Motivated by the absence of art patronage, and realising that craft had a ready market, a group of artists associated with the art college in Madras established Cholamandal Artists’ Village where crafts-based practices were an integral aspect of their routine.

Ultimately, this exhibition provides a glimpse of how the notion of being progressive was interpreted by different interest groups working in distinct but overlapping areas: by nation-builders who spearheaded initiatives aimed at socio-economic change; by designers who sought to inculcate a new aesthetic sensibility in domestic spaces; and by artists who desired to create a taste for modern art.

~ Vaishnavi Ramanathan