Seams like great art

Adapted from her animated film Tanko Bole Chhe, Nina Sabnani's visual book, Stitching Stories, hopes to introduce kids to the world and sensibilities of some of India's finest artists from Kutch

It would be an understatement to say that Nina Sabnani is passionate about India's arts and crafts.

The Associate Professor at the Industrial Design Centre, IIT Bombay and filmmaker, made Tanko Bole Chhe (Stitches Speak, November 2009), which highlighted the embroidered narrative panels created by the women artists of Kutch, Gujarat. "Two of my earlier films were made into books by Tulika. I share a long relationship with them.


Artists Raniben and Meghiben were two of the heroines in Nina Sabnani's film and book

So, when they approached me once again, it seemed like a natural progression to reach out to children with this work," says Sabnani.

Meant to celebrate the art of Kutchi women, Stitching Stories was inspired by her earlier film, Mukand and Riaz, which focused on children's rights, where she first used appliqu ufffd work by artisans from Gujarat for her visuals.

Day the Earth Shook
The 2001 earthquake that devastated Gujarat acted as trigger point for the artists involved in Tanko Bole Chhe (and Stitching Stories) "most of these women started narrative work after that disaster. They understood the language and soon began to create scenes from the earthquake.

Judy Frater, Founder, Kala Raksha, discovered that at the collective (the retail enterprise to promote their art), the older women weren't able to do fine, intricate work. So these panels proved a godsend," shares Sabnani.

Once they took off, these women (most in their 60s and 70s) had great fun and got back into the competitive spirit with their stunning storytelling panels.

"They own catalogues and are immensely proud of their work," the illustrator-animator reveals. This collaborative process involved a back-and-forth at every stage, which helped enrich the visual process, according to Sabnani.

Lens to font
"My publishers were very excited after I showed them this 12-minute animated film. Converting it into a book was a challenge. For one, you cannot spell out the music, action and speech. Images have to be captured to tell a story in a limited way. Text plays a larger, explanatory role.

We've tried to keep it in first person. The book becomes informative while the film is always evocative," explains Sabnani who was most keen that the artists share their thoughts, life and images in this unique fashion to the outside world.
u00a0
In the film (with English subtitles), the women speak Kutchhi while in the book, the content is translated in English "so the reader doesn't get to hear these nuances," she rues.

Sabnani filmed these artists over two years, while the animation took another six months. The film created ripples at international festivals and has already won five national and international awards.

"A while ago, I received a phone call from one of my students at the National Institute of Design (where she taught design for 22 years) where the same artists were watching Tanko Bole Chhe. One of the stars from the film, Meghiben, asked her in surprise, 'How did you manage to put all our lives into 12 minutes?'"

Take home value
"It was a very humbling experience. We have so much at our disposal. These women are proud and dignified. Most importantly, they are fastidious and conscious about ideas and the quality of their work. There's a lot we can learn from them," summarises Sabnani of her time with the heroines of Gujarat.u00a0

Stitching Stories - The art of embroidery in Gujarat, Nina Sabnani and the Artists of Kala Raksha; Tulika Books, Rs 200. Available at leading bookstores