Ancient Art, Modern Medium
Block Printing in the21st Century
Block Printing is one of the most ancient fibre arts in existence. Its origins lie in the valley of the Indus some four and a half thousand years ago. Craftsmen, living in what is now Rajasthan, Pakistan and Gujurat, carved astonishing patterns into local teakwood blocks. These blocks would then be soaked in olive oil for ten days, dried in the Indian sun, then pressed on to vibrant, dyed cloth to create the most inspiring patterns. If you visit North West India, you will see that they are still doing it today, exactly the same way, four and a half thousand years later.
Block Printing, however, is not confined to a corner of India but is making a global resurgence in the world of textile arts. Two hundred years ago artists like William Morris made Block Printing universal. The brilliant designs of Morris, combined with Victorian industrial zeal, meant that Block printed patterns spread across the world and became the vogue for fashionable society. Gradually, the fashions changed and Block Printed fabric became sadly neglected. Now, the world is changing and with it comes the return of this simple and beautiful art form.
As modern society turns away from multi-national corporations and mass production Block Printing takes its place as a simple effective way of creating individual and unique patterns which form the starting point for garments or fibre art. The unique inspiration you can get from Block Printing is not the only benefit of Block Printing. Companies like The Indian Block Company, allow artists to practice this technique in a way that is not merely ecological but actually supports the economy of the craftsmen still living in North West India.
Five years ago these incredible artisans were leaving the traditional areas of Block Printing to find more stable work in the factories of India's massive population centres. Companies like the Indian Block Company saw that there was an opportunity and a market for the work of these men. Now beautiful wooden blocks, handmade in India, are being imported for sale across the world. The craftsmanship of these Indian masters is combined with the infrastructure of a number of Western companies to make these wonderful artefacts available to everyone, provide a stable working wage to the indigenous people and keep this wonderful art alive.
Block Printing is incredibly simple and deeply satisfying. Even when you are not using the wooden blocks they stand alone as lovely pieces of art. I would urge everyone to get involved, if you cannot get to India then there are a number of companies on the internet who can get you started, probably the best of these can be found at http://www.theindianblockcompany.com. Try their site for yourself; I promise you will not regret it.
Block Printing in the21st Century
Block Printing is one of the most ancient fibre arts in existence. Its origins lie in the valley of the Indus some four and a half thousand years ago. Craftsmen, living in what is now Rajasthan, Pakistan and Gujurat, carved astonishing patterns into local teakwood blocks. These blocks would then be soaked in olive oil for ten days, dried in the Indian sun, then pressed on to vibrant, dyed cloth to create the most inspiring patterns. If you visit North West India, you will see that they are still doing it today, exactly the same way, four and a half thousand years later.
Block Printing, however, is not confined to a corner of India but is making a global resurgence in the world of textile arts. Two hundred years ago artists like William Morris made Block Printing universal. The brilliant designs of Morris, combined with Victorian industrial zeal, meant that Block printed patterns spread across the world and became the vogue for fashionable society. Gradually, the fashions changed and Block Printed fabric became sadly neglected. Now, the world is changing and with it comes the return of this simple and beautiful art form.
As modern society turns away from multi-national corporations and mass production Block Printing takes its place as a simple effective way of creating individual and unique patterns which form the starting point for garments or fibre art. The unique inspiration you can get from Block Printing is not the only benefit of Block Printing. Companies like The Indian Block Company, allow artists to practice this technique in a way that is not merely ecological but actually supports the economy of the craftsmen still living in North West India.
Five years ago these incredible artisans were leaving the traditional areas of Block Printing to find more stable work in the factories of India's massive population centres. Companies like the Indian Block Company saw that there was an opportunity and a market for the work of these men. Now beautiful wooden blocks, handmade in India, are being imported for sale across the world. The craftsmanship of these Indian masters is combined with the infrastructure of a number of Western companies to make these wonderful artefacts available to everyone, provide a stable working wage to the indigenous people and keep this wonderful art alive.
Block Printing is incredibly simple and deeply satisfying. Even when you are not using the wooden blocks they stand alone as lovely pieces of art. I would urge everyone to get involved, if you cannot get to India then there are a number of companies on the internet who can get you started, probably the best of these can be found at http://www.theindianblockcompany.com. Try their site for yourself; I promise you will not regret it.