Trip to Crafts Museum

Imagination has been viewed as more important than knowledge by some of the most creative thinkers of all time, such as Albert Einstein. But I believe that without being equipped with knowledge, one can’t convert one’s imagination into reality. And so, it was at the end of our unit on imagination that Form 2, along with Ms. Lakshmi and I, embarked on a trip to the Crafts Museum, Pragati Maidan, to see various artisans combine imagination and knowledge to create some unique pieces of art. The children went equipped with questions they had constructed earlier, based on the Lines of Inquiry.

From the moment we stepped into the premises, the children were filled with amazement at all the creativity they could see around them. On reaching the demonstration area where the artisans were working, the children quickly identified whom they would like to interview to find out more about the craft. There were crafts that they had never seen or heard about before. Some of them were, Gond painting, nail painting, Surpur painting, Pat painting, cane and bamboo work, black pottery and clay pottery. The children were paired in such a way that at least one was fluent in Hindi, helping them to communicate easily. Of course, there were some artisans from the North East region of India who were fluent in English.

The children’s energy level matched their enthusiasm and there was no stopping them going from one artisan to the next in their thirst to know more. Though not part of our agenda, we conceded to their desire to go see the museum as well. Relics and artefacts, from a time gone by, enthralled them. The entire experience was indeed enriching.

Aradhana Sikri
Form Tutor – Form 2

Our Trip to the Crafts Museum

The visit to the crafts museum showed me how the artisans used their imagination to express their ideas in different ways. The artisans are skilled people, who think and then create something by using their imagination.

The models I saw were nail painting, pottery, paper models, puppets and some painting made with hands. With the use of different materials like clay, paper, paint, cloth, wood, metal, bamboo sticks, the artisans were able to convert their ideas into an object.

Therefore I felt it was linked to the Central Idea about imagination being a strong tool for extending our abilities to think, create and share our ideas with others.

Varsha Thimmaiah

 Form 2

Interview of an artisan doing cane and bamboo work (questions framed by the children)

Kritin and Devmaya- Did you copy the design or think about it yourself?
Artisan- I learnt from a school in Assam

K&D- Did you have any problem while making it?
Artisan- I did not have any problem, because I keep practising.

K&D- Where did you get the ideas from?
Artisan- I have been making these things for so many years, so I get the ideas from my experience.

K&D- What material did you use for making them?
Artisan- I used cane and bamboo.

K&D- What did you make it for?
Artisan- I made it to sell it and earn money.

Kritin and Devmaya

Form 2