Symposium
Roots & Routes: Exploring historic and contemporary textile practices
Join us for a multidisciplinary all day symposium held in conjunction with the MAP’s ongoing exhibition Chay Reds, Ferrous Black: The untold stories of Indian trade textiles in Sri Lanka.
Click on this link now for details on panels and speakers.
Curated by Vaishnavi Kambadur, the symposium explores the history of textile trade through the lens of textile languages, practices and contemporary adaptations; situating them within a social and cultural context derived from regions including, but not limited to, India, Sri Lanka, Europe and Indonesia. Exploring the narratives within the exhibition such as lifestyle, commerce, costume and spirituality, it brings together diverse voices from not only the field of art history, but also sustainability studies, contemporary design, textile sciences, fashion and liberal arts.
Reflecting the process of textile creation, the symposium’s activities through the day aim to evolve new patterns, providing insight into the shared sentiments and histories of textile production. Moving between the past and present, it sets the stage for a deeper exploration of how textiles both root us to place, and connect us to a wider world.
Programme Schedule
9:00 to 10:00 am — Registrations
10:00 to 10:15 am — Opening remarks
10:15 to 11:00 am — Inaugural Lecture: Cross Cultural Connections in Kalamkari
11:15 am to 12:15 pm — Panel 1: From Khadi to Kalamkari: Textile Making Processes
11:30 to 12:45 pm — Workshop 1: Petals, Peels and Pigments: A Workshop on Dyeing Processes
12:30 to 1:00 pm — Inspired, Imagined and Interpreted: A Student-led Exhibition Walkthrough
1:00 to 2:00 pm — Lunch
2:00 to 3:00 pm — Panel 2: From Cotton Seeds to Chay Root: The Role of the ‘Local’
2:00 to 3:30 pm — Workshop 2: Fruits, Flags and Floral Patterns: A Workshop on Contemporary Chintz
3:15 to 4:15 pm — Panel 3: From Fabric to Fashion: ‘Hybrid’ Practices
4:30 to 5:00 pm — Closing Remarks
5:00 to 5:30 pm — Curator led Walkthrough
5:00 to 6:30 pm — High Tea
Download a pdf version of the detailed schedule and speaker list by clicking on this link.
For further insight on the panel discussions and speaker details, click on this link.
Please write to ritsika.kulkarni@map-india.org for general queries related to the symposium.
For Information on accessibility support:
Write to mounika.nallani@map-india.org. You can refer to the accessibility features mentioned here.
Bookings
This event is fully booked.
Vaishnavi Kambadur
Symposium Curator
Vaishnavi Kambadur is a curator and designer whose work draws from a variety of art-fashion-textile experiences across India. Her academic journey includes a Master’s degree in Fashion Studies from Parsons School of Design, New York, and a Bachelor’s degree in Knitwear Design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi. She is an adjunct professor at Pearl Academy, Bengaluru, where she teaches History of Design and Design Fundamentals. She brings over a decade of experience in design, curatorial work, and academic research to her teaching and scholarly pursuits. Vaishnavi’s research focuses on the cultural significance of textiles and their intersection with anthropology and fashion theory.
Previously, Vaishnavi was part of the founding team at the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bengaluru, where she served as Assistant Curator. She contributed to the curation of several major exhibitions, including VISIBLE/INVISIBLE: Representation of Women through the MAP Collection and co-curated online exhibitions such as Painted Stitches, Woven Stories I and II. Before her curatorial career, Vaishnavi interned at Christie’s New York in the Indian and Southeast Asian Art department, where she contributed to major auctions. She also worked as a research and teaching assistant at The New School, New York, supporting faculty on projects related to textile scholarship and material culture. Vaishnavi has received accolades such as the Geraldine Stutz Award for her academic contributions.
