Curatorial Note:

My journey

My romance with fabric started at an early age, when I stitched my own clothes. I enjoyed the feel of different textures of fabrics, to discern the colors, sheens and weights of cloth, which later led me to explore the rich world of Indian textiles. I started to collect discarded leftover bits of beautiful material. Being a hands-on seamstress, I would fashion the fabrics into pouches, tray covers and runners. Later I would patch the pieces together to form patterns, into a patchwork quilt. My quilt-making journey started in the 1970s. I started an export business of quilt making, supplying to high-end department stores in European and US markets. All along, I was aware of the living tradition of quilt making in Maharashtra’s rural areas. They had a distinctive stamp. In May 2010, I wound up my business career, towards a journey of exploring “godaris’ in the villages of Maharashtra.

Three years of extensive fieldwork searching for quilts took me on the dusty pathways, walking under the sweltering sun, drenched in the heavy rains, through many villages and towns of Maharashtra until a patchwork of images and stories emerged which culminated in a book entitled- ‘Godharis of Maharashtra, Western India’ published by Quiltmania Editions in France. It is my first attempt to research the humble godari and I have tried to capture in words and images of the unknown rural women I encountered and their exquisite creations.

In 2016 the first miniature costume was created, inspired by the book ‘Indian Costumes from the Calico Museum’ Ahmedabad. Later it grew into making 55 maharaja miniature costumes . In October 2019, These were displayed at the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Bombay. It got an overwhelming response.

My current project is inspired to create teeny-tiny Dolls quilts ranging from the traditional to the contemporary styles.

I am passionate about quilting, sewing, embroidery and cloth dyeing. Most of my works are using recycled materials and selvedges, old precious saved fabrics, threads, ropes, buttons and more. Inspired by the art, craft, and traditions of India and Japan. Every time I make a quilt, a lot of thought goes into making the quilt. It needs attention to colour, size, texture, mathematics. Often, I start patching pieces of cloth with no definite pattern in mind. The pattern evolves as I go along, continuing to add the tiny pieces making sure that the colour harmony of the quilt remains peaceful.

-Geeta Khandelwal