Think less gallery pieces, more objects you can live with. From handwoven mats and cushions to brass kitchenware and heirloom textiles, Aabharnam’s Anvaya brings craft into the home, foregrounding how traditional practices continue to shape everyday living. Held at Amethyst, Chennai, from April 28 to 30, the exhibition builds on the foundation’s long engagement with Indian textiles, with curator Neha Verma, a third-generation revivalist.

Anvaya arrives in Chennai as the foundation’s first independent showcase in the city, following two acclaimed editions at Jahan-e-Khusrau in Delhi, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2025 and Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh earlier this year.

Meaning ‘lineage’ in Sanskrit, Anvaya brought together 18 master artisans, placing museum-quality works alongside functional pieces — Kantha textiles, Pattachitra, Kalamkari, Pichwai, and Sanjhi — while curator brand Aabharnam’s own Banarasi and Chanderi sarees anchor the show in living textile traditions. “Indian art, craft, and textile traditions, when nurtured with integrity, naturally transcend time. These crafts haven’t survived by chance, but through the deliberate and quiet resilience of the hands that carry them forward, and the patrons who support them,” says Verma.

Copper and brass plates, water bottles, and kitchenware anchor Ranvir Singh’s practice. The Pune-based artisan, a third-generation craftsman, traces his lineage back nearly 300 years to the Peshwas, including Baji Rao I. His work is marked by intricate surface patterns formed through constant, uninterrupted hammering—a physically demanding process that leaves no visible gaps, with each piece taking up to two days. Price: ₹6,000

Among the practitioners is Akhila Jana, a fourth-generation mat weaver from West Bengal, whose maslan mats are handmade from madurkathi grass. Designed instinctively, the mats absorb sweat, are suited for summer, and are sustainable, with notable longevity and durability. Each piece takes two to three months to make. The practice supports around 20 people in manufacturing and a larger network of nearly 400. From sleeping bags and file holders to caps and shoes, the range extends well beyond traditional mats. Price: ₹10,000

Khetaram Sumra’s wall screenings and cushions translate pattu weaving for contemporary interiors. The Rajasthan-based artisan works with the traditional weft-based technique to revive a practice sustained by his father and grandfather, while retaining the original weaving pattern. His Rajasthan wildlife-inspired cotton collection took five years to develop. Price: ₹1,800