Breathing (with) history: An ode to the rural heritage of India

At a time when India’s rural legacies risk being eclipsed by the noise of hypermodernity, the Kolkata Centre for Creativity (KCC) opened a window to the past, one that feels startlingly alive.

- NAYANIKA SAMANTA

In collaboration with the Indian Museum and the Museum Association of Bengal, KCC’s AMI Art Festival 2025 sparks life into ‘Breathing (with) History—Celebrating Rural Heritage Stories’, a landmark exhibition which urges urban audiences to rediscover India’s rural cultural landscapes.

As one steps further into the exhibition, the eyes are drawn to a riot of cultural expressions. Bankura’s terracotta figurines and the enigmatic Chau masks seem to observe you, as if privy to age-old secrets and village dramas. On the right, the scroll paintings from Pingla unravel in delicate, meticulous strokes, weaving stories of myth, harvest and celebration with equal finesse.

Shafaque Meerza from the Sanskriti Museum and Art Gallery, Hazaribagh(Jharkhand) gave a sneak peek into her collection. “These pieces come from the hands of village women who paint Sohrai and Khovar motifs during the harvest and wedding season, respectively, adorning mud walls with stories of abundance. Artists including Putli Ganjhu and Parvati Devi have shifted the practice onto paper, helping the tradition gain visibility abroad in countries such as Australia, Switzerland, Italy and Canada.” According to Meerza, the movement has since expanded to nearly 400 women, each finding both income and recognition through this craft.

Suchorita Kanrar of Darpan — Reflection of the Past, emphasised the role of digital innovation in keeping tradition alive.