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 WELCOMING THE NEW YEAR 2025 |SHELLY JYOTI NEWSLETTER 2025
EXHIBITIONS |  LECTURES | CONFERENCES
 
 

XXVII Annual International Conference |Theme:  ‘Migrations: old and new’2024

‘Weaving displacement: Textiles, migration and cultural resilience in historical context’
December 17-19, 2024| Conference Venue Udaipur, Rajasthan
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XXVII Annual International Conference | ‘Migrations: old and new’2024

‘Weaving displacement: Textiles, migration and cultural resilience in historical context’ December 17-19, 2024| Conference Venue Udaipur, Rajasthan
Abstract: My talk will delve into the intertwined history of indigo, forced migration, and cultural resilience, exploring textiles as living narratives of displacement and survival. I will preview my work-in-progress, ‘Faceless Journeys’, 12 feet long, which addresses anonymity and identity loss in migration.
 
EXHIBITION
Title: Blue Gold: The Art and Science of Indigo
Curated By-
Emily Hanna and Guusje Sanders, and guest co-curator Barbara Hanson Forsyth
GROUP SHOWVenue: Mingei International Museum, San Deigo , CA 
Part of Getty’s 2024, PST Initiative 
Shelly Jyoti, The 18th-Century Merchant Ship, 2023, India 
Ajrakh printing, dyeing, and gold needlework on khadi fabric

INTRODUCTION: Indian artist Shelly Jyoti uses symbolic imagery and traditional textile craft to explore India’s socio-political history, particularly indigo’s role in the freedom struggle and Gandhi’s nonviolent protest against British colonial planters. Her piece, “The 18th-Century Merchant Ship,” illustrates indigo as a transnational commodity, with a European vessel symbolizing Europe’s role in the indigo trade and colonization.

Jyoti celebrates India’s cultural identity through Ajrakh block printing, collaborating with tenth-generation craftsmen to apply their reverse block technique on hand-spun khadi fabric. This ancient craft, dating back 4,500 years, involves over 20 steps and uses natural dyes. By blending traditional techniques with contemporary narratives, Jyoti preserves cultural heritage while emphasizing sustainability and self-sufficiency in India’s history.
 
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT :
Public lecture 
‘The Enduring Legacy of Indigo: Crafting History Through a Legendary Dye’’ by Shelly JyotiMingei International Museum, San- Diego  California 
Sept 15, 2024
The Enduring Legacy of Indigo: Crafting History Through a Legendary Dye’ by Shelly Jyoti
 Abstract:
This lecture  will explore the history and materiality of indigo as a transnational commodity, examining its economic impact, cultural significance, and the complex dynamics of capitalism from the 18th to the 20th century. Through my artworks and installations, I focus on themes of human exploitation and dignity, highlighting the 4,500-year-old Ajrakh textile tradition that utilizes indigo and other natural dyes. As a practitioner of the reverse block printing technique, I emphasise the importance of documenting this craft in our contemporary era, drawing inspiration from Gandhi’s ideas on peace, non-violence, and sustainability. Working with two ajrakh artisans in collaboration and in the studios of craftsman Juned M Khatri,atv ajrakhpur  Bhuj  I employ traditional block patterns passed down through generations. I am privileged to have my piece, “The 18th Century Merchant Ship,” from my recent exhibition “Indigo: The Blue Gold,” on view at the Mingei International Museum.
https://pst.art/en/events/art-break-lecture-the-enduring-legacy-of-indigo-crafting-history-through-a-legendary-dye-by-shelly-jyoti
 
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT-XXVI Annual International Conference
Paper presentation
‘Indigo as transnational commodity: Intersections of economic and cultural dynamics’ by shelly jyotiTheme: ‘Global capitalism’ 
Forum for contemporary theory & Chicago Center for Contemporary Theory (3CT)
Venue: Bharat Mata college, Kochi, kerala, india 
“18th Century Merchant Vessel” Artwork 
 
‘Indigo as transnational commodity: Intersections of economic and cultural dynamics’ by shelly jyoti
Abstract : This lecture delves into indigo’s historical role as a symbol of global capitalism, presented in the exhibition “Índigo: The Blue Gold (2009-23)” Exploring modern Indian history, the artworks examine the transnational dimensions of indigo trade and migration, spotlighting the globalization of production forces and their societal impact. Rooted in Gandhi’s ideologies, the exhibition raises questions about swadharma’s relevance for positive societal transformation in the 21st century. It also explores how textiles can bridge urban-rural gaps, emphasizing equity and human dignity. The artist’s collaboration with Ajrakh textile artisans in Bhuj, Gujarat, provides unique insights into indigenous communities, colonization’s legacy, and Gandhi’s universal message.Segment: ‘Gandhi’s Relevance in Addressing Modern Capitalist Challenges’
 
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT
ARTIST TALK
School of Art Institute of Chicago. SAIC“Indigo, Gandhi, and Ajrakh: An Artist’s Journey with Natural Dyes on Khadi”
31st september , 2024
Abstract: In today’s lecture, I explore Gandhi’s core philosophies—Svadharma, Sarvodaya, Swadeshi, Swaraj, and Svavlambhan—and their influence on my artistic practice. These principles guide my ongoing investigation into self-reliance, community, and identity.

I will highlight Gandhi’s major movements:
– Champaran Movement (1917-18): A triumph of individual resistance.
– Salt March (1930): Collective non-violent resistance.
– Swadeshi: Self-reliance through local production.
-Swaraj: Community-driven self-rule.
– Svavlambhan: Self-sufficiency, central to my current project.

My art practice is rooted in Gandhi, Ajrakh, and Khadi, reinterprets these ideas to address contemporary issues, exploring how Gandhi’s teachings offer solutions for today’s challenges
 
EXHIBITION
Title:Art, Architecture & Design Biennale
GROUP SHOWThe Red Fort,  Ministry of Culture, New Delhi, India
Curator : Anchita Nair 
Chief Guest: Hon. Prime minister Shri Narendra D Modi
Shelly Jyoti ‘An Illusion to Ajrakh: An Indigo Plant’ Diptych, 20
Ajrakh printing with natural dyes, hand embroidery on hand-spun
woven khadi fabric, 34×50 inches
 
EXHIBITION
ART DUBAI 2024
Represented by Gallery Exhibit 320 
GROUP SHOWMadinat Jumeirah, Dubai 
March 2024

Introduction:The “Imagined Communities: Swaraj and Collectiveness” 2018-19 featured textile murals, draw ing inspiration from Gandhi’s seminal book “Hind Swaraj,” written in 1918, which was a critique to modern civilisation promoting individual and collective responsibility for building just societies. In today’s world, marked by conflicts, wars and racial injustices, economic progress lacks spiritual depth. Gandhi’s “sarvodaya” principle advocates unity and love for humanity. Unified efforts, akin to fish swimming harmoniously, can bring healing to society, embodying the essence of collectiveness.
Fish becomes my metaphor to convey an idea of self rule and collectiveness
 
 
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT
Lecture 
NIFT Kangara & Pan India campuses
Integrating Art, Craft, and Design: Textile Art and Installations in Contemporary Visual Space by shelly jyoti
April 2024Abstract : This lecture explores the intersection of Art, Craft, and Design (ACD), using my textile art scrolls and installations to redefine these boundaries within contemporary visual space. Art, often seen as a reflection of society, expresses emotions and vision, while craft is rooted in traditional skills and cultural memory. Craft involves the repetitive creation of physical objects through manual skill, whereas art is more open-ended and emotional. In my work, I blend craft and design to tell stories and evoke cultural narratives through visual art
 
EXHIBITION
Apparao Art Galleries, Chennai 
Title: ‘Entwined :Craftng narratives bound by body and soul’
Bikaner house, New Delhi, India 
GROUP SHOWCurated by Sharan Apparao 
19-January-  20th March 2024
 
‘Imagined communities’, Ajrakh printing dyeing on khadi fabric, 2016
 
EXHIBITION
Title:’A Frame of One’s Own’ 
Arranged by Johny ML
GROUP SHOWBharat Art Space Gallery
Golf course Road .Gurgaon, Haryana
Shelly Jyoti ‘An Illusion to Ajrakh: An Indigo Plant’ Diptych, 20
Ajrakh printing with natural dyes, hand embroidery on hand-spun
woven khadi fabric, 34×50 inches
 
EXHIBITION
Title: ‘ENTWINED’ Edition by Apparao Galleries, New Delhi 
GROUP SHOWCCA Gallery, Pandara road,
India gate, New Delhi 110011
 August 2024
Shelly Jyoti, ‘Timeless Silhouettes: Angrakha and Blouse Samplers,’
Ajrakh printing, dyeing, and delicate needlework on khadi fabric. 2016
 
NEW WORKS IN MAKING:
Ajrakhpur, Bhuj, Gujarat , India 2024Working title:”Faceless Journeys: Migration and Collective Consciousness” 2025
https://youtu.be/gxa14PFqTnU
WORK IN PROGRESS  2024
Opening Date to be decided Soon  for viewing 
Working title:”Faceless Journeys: Migration and Collective Consciousness”
   
 
 
 
 

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