Following the exhibition preview and publication launch of Textiles from Bengal: A Shared Legacy,  Weavers Studio Resource Centre is pleased to present a two-day symposium that brings forth new insights on the genres of textiles featured in our exhibition. With esteemed speakers from India, Bangladesh, the US, the UK, and Europe, this symposium will be enriched by immersive performances that intertwine with the textile traditions, offering a multisensory experience and deepening the connection between art, culture, and textiles.

What Makes This Special

– Stellar gathering of 18 international experts such as Rosemary Crill (Former Curator, V&A Museum), Dr. Pika Ghosh (University of North Carolina), Designer Bibi Russell (Bangladesh), Ana Kol (Curator, MNAA, Lisbon), textile historian Rta Kapur Chishti (India) coming together from four continents

– Insightful presentations and conversations exploring rare textile traditions including jamdani, kantha, and Indo-Portuguese embroideries through expert perspectives and demonstrations

– Special enactment by acclaimed filmmaker Aparna Sen, exploring the intersection of textiles, costume, and cinema through her celebrated works

– Evening performances of "One Size Fits All" by sarod virtuoso Soumik Datta, featuring live music, traditional block printing, and immersive visual projections

– Launch of landmark publication "Textiles from Bengal: A Shared Legacy" - a comprehensive 30-chapter volume spanning 500 years of textile heritage

– Exclusive preview of accompanying exhibition showcasing rare textile pieces and artefacts

Our Speakers

Sonia Ashmore, Author and textile historian, UK

Rosemary Crill, Former curator, Victoria and Albert Museum, UK

Avalon Fotheringham, Curator, Victoria and Albert Museum, UK

Pika Ghosh, Academic expert on South Asian textile history, USA

John Gillow, Collector and author, UK

Iftekhar Iqbal, Historian of South Asian studies, Brunei

Jyotindra Jain, Eminent cultural historian, India

Pawan Jain, Scholar of Indian textile traditions, India

Mayank Mansingh Kaul, Textile curator and historian, India

Ana Kol, Curator, MNAA, Portugal

Rosie Llewellyn-Jones, Historian, UK

Paola Manfredi, Designer and author, Italy and India

Rta Kapur Chisti, Revivalist and textile scholar, India

Bibi Russel, Textile designer, Bangladesh

Aparna Sen, Filmmaker and cultural icon, India

Ritu Sethi, Editor, Global InCH, India

Tirthankar Roy, Economic historian, UK

Niaz Zaman, Literary scholar, Bangladesh

Dates: 31st January 2025 and 1st February 2025

Timings: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Venue: Conference Rooms I & II, 4th Floor, Kolkata Centre for Creativity, E M Bypass, Kolkata 700107.