Beautiful, handmade toys and games from India were displayed at the Museum in this colourful exhibition. A selection of contemporary toys were acquired in India, directly from the makers at the Dilli Haat Bazaar in New Delhi. They represented the playthings of millions of Indian children past and present, and provided an insight into the vital role that craft plays in India today. Historic toys from the Museum's collection highlighted the fine craftmanship achieved in traditional toy making in India and offered a comparison with modern toys.
The roots of all craft traditions are based in social, cultural, or religious customs. Craft is an important economic activity and the second largest employment sector after agriculture in India.
Many agricultural and pastoral communities depend on their traditional craft skills as a secondary source of income in times of drought, lean harvests, floods or famine. Dilli Haat is run by Dastkar, an organisation which promotes traditional crafts and helps develop the self-sufficiency of craftspeople and craft communities.
This exhibition was supported by the Helen Hamlyn Trust and Shisha, the international agency for contemporary South Asian crafts and visual arts, working in collaboration with Dastkar. For more information see touring exhibitions.
For more information go to www.shisha.net
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