Lakshmi Balakrishnan

BD2025

People, their stories and their craft

We started off the semester with the question "What is craft?" and my answers then and now, I think, are quite different. Through my interactions with people from diverse places, I’ve realized that craft is more than the objects they create; it embodies their lifestyle, culture, and environment. My work has led me to narrate these little details from their stories such as Babu Kaka's cart and the archaeologists who visited Alibhai. The intricate details woven into my graphic novel is also my way of trying to include most of what I heard and saw. These unique stories and the idiosyncrasies of individuals highlight what makes their craft truly special. It’s the blend of personal narratives, cultural influences, and creative expression that defines their craft and sets it apart as something extraordinary. 

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Whispers of the Temple, a graphic novel based on the crafts and culture of Himachal Pradesh

Spreads from the graphic novel

Process, details and inspiration

On field work

Experiencing aspects Kath Khuni architecture

Crafted by Time, a story book based on the potters of Gundiyali

Kaal Chakra, a storyboard spanning generations of nakashi workers, Babu kaka's ancestors

Nakashi work

Block printing

Kharadi work