Course
Kantha Embroidery
Organised by V&A
Explore the art of Kantha: beautiful stitched textiles from the Indian subcontinent whose ethos is rooted in sustainability, storytelling and mindfulness
This two-day course will provide you with all of the skills and knowledge needed to create your own Kantha panel, which can be used as a decorative wall-hanging or as part of a bigger project.
Under the gentle guidance of textile artist Ekta Kaul, you will first learn the fundamental Kantha stitches, creating your own stitch library. Taking inspiration from the rich tradition of Kantha textiles, you will explore how to extend this vocabulary into your personal responses of Kantha, creating your own unique, simple Kantha design.
Throughout the course, Ekta will share illustrative samples from her personal collection, discuss the historical context of Kantha and share contemporary approaches by artists to inspire you. The emphasis of the workshop will be on developing your creative confidence in using this heritage technique in contemporary ways, all while enjoying creative conversations with like-minded people in the beautiful setting of the V&A.
Do also take a look at our six-week online art history course 'Indian Textiles, Dress and Jewellery' which explores the history, representation and extraordinary variety of textiles, dress and jewellery from across the subcontinent.