Once a traditional art form adorning gifts to newlywed couples, Kappiyali art could now fit well into the environment conservation narrative, according to artist Aruna Vishnu Wagh, whose upcoming book on the subject will hit the stands soon.
Presenting a lecture and demonstration on the age-old Kappiyali art at MOG Sundays, held at the Museum of Goa, in Pilerne, Wagh said that widespread use of the environment-friendly art form could help prevent dumping of cloth and textile material into the already over-used solid waste landfill sites.
"Museum of Goa, Pilerne, endorses the principles of recycle and reuse. Many artworks, displayed at the museum, follow the same practice, which involves repurposing of scrap material, used plastic bottles, driftwood, etc, to produce artistic exhibits and installations," informs MOG Sundays curator, Nilankur Das.
"The Kappiyali art form aligns well with these values and principles, adopted by MOG, and is one of the key reasons why we chose to host this workshop," adds Das.
“In the past, the fabric used in Kappiyali art was primarily cotton. This art form is environment-friendly as it uses recycled or upcycled fabric, which reduces the amount of waste going into landfills,” Wagh explained at her lecture, which was followed by a practical demonstration on the making of Kappiyali art work and its uses.
Old fabrics, brought to the demonstration by the participants, were repurposed into articles using the Kappiyali technique. One attendee also displayed a denim bag, styled in the art form, which was repurposed from a used pair of jeans.
Basically, Kappiyali is a traditional Goan quilting technique which incorporates the use of cloth patchwork to create colourful and intricate quilts, rugs, bedspreads and more.
“What makes this art truly special is that these Kappiyali art creations, adorned with intricate designs of flowers, leaves and more, were often gifted to newlywed couples,” Wagh explained.
Wagh also said that her first memories of the art were formed around her grandmother. “I have fond memories of my Aaji (grandmother) engaging in Kappiyali art. She used to save extra material after sewing her own clothes. Later, she would gather her neighbours and friends to create these beautiful Kappiyalis together. It was a collaborative effort, resulting in a single, larger piece,” she recalled.
Kappiyali art is deeply embedded in the essence of Goa and its cultural history, which Wagh said would be explored in her book on the art form, that is scheduled to be published soon.