Eco-Friendly Textile Paintings and Wall Hangings

Dochu
Dochu

This exhibition is based on the intense research on natural dyes and resist techniques, which Padmini learnt from the master craftspeople in India and Japan, as well as some of her own experimental methods and innovations.

Her effort is to promote eco-friendly sustainable dyes and fibers, which do not spread any toxicity to the people who use the textiles as well to the workers who manufacture those textiles. They are ideal for decorating residents and office spaces.

The exhibits are dyed using natural dyes such as indigo from India as well as from Japan, madder, catechu, lac, pomegranate rind etc. They are mainly dyed on natural fibers such as rough to finest hand-woven cottons and silks. Painting and several resist techniques are used for creating designs using natural indigo and other natural dyes.

Dr. Padmini Tolat Balaram is a Textile Designer, researcher and textile artist, who has worked extensively on eco-friendly, sustainable materials such as natural dyes and natural fibers of India, Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand and Uzbekistan.

Her works are in the collection of Air India, Consulate of Japan- Mumbai, Eicher Gallery, and with art collectors such as Mallika Sarabhai, Prafull and Shilpa Shah. She has worked with architects and interior designers such as Kena Patel, Varsha Desai, Crafts-Bridge and created wall hangings on order to suit the needs of the houses and offices. A collection of her natural dyed paintings is used to decorate three bays in the office of the Tata Interactive Systems Ltd. in Mumbai. She has also worked with fashion designers on fashion shows creating special textiles to suit the varieties of garments.