Nearby at boutique hotel Daspan House, Richa Arya’s textile installation, produced with Sindhi embroiderers from Jodhpur through the Sang Welfare Society, highlights the labour and skill of these working women, treating embroidery as a living archive of memory passed down through generations. In the same hotel, Jenjum Gadi collaborates with a Nepali silversmith to create a sculptural bunch of fruits and vegetables, a tender reflection on his childhood spent close to nature.
The following day, the gateway of Khaas Bagh hosts Awdhesh Tamrakar’s toran-inspired installation, presenting the traditional threshold adornment as a layered meditation on ideas of hearty Indian welcome as well as protection.
On 4 and 5 October, two experiences will run on both days and offer audiences different ways to engage with the city. Blue Prints, a community photo walk facilitated by Abhyuday Singh Pawar and Ankit Bishnoi, invites visitors to document cenotaphs, trees, and other details around Mandore Gardens, creating a collective visual archive that reveals the space through multiple perspectives. At the same time, the Public Arts Trust of India (PATI) Curatorial Team guides audiences across Jodhpur Arts Week venues, explaining the ideas, collaborations, and behind-the-scenes work that shaped the festival’s projects.
Through the week, works by artists such as Zavier Wong, Theo Pinto, Anitha Reddy, and many more will be on view across these venues; they come without scheduled walkthroughs, but are well worth seeking out nevertheless.
What to do beyond attending exhibitions?
Alongside the art installations and exhibits, Jodhpur Arts Week runs talks, workshops, and interactive sessions that give people creative ways to engage with the city’s craft traditions, food, architecture, and more.
The Public Arts Trust of India (PATI) has added several curated sessions to the line up for a more hands-on experience. An evening workshop at Raj Mahal Government Girls Higher Secondary School teaches traditional knotting techniques used in charpais, camel harnesses, and rope-making, using natural materials like khajur, khejri, and moonj grass. A guided food and craft walk through the walled city takes visitors through workshops and kitchens to sample local delicacies such as makhaniya lassi and pyaaz kachori, and has them learn a thing or two about lac bangle making, floral torans, and silverwork. During a three hour immersive programme at Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, participants follow clue-based trails that trace Marwar’s geological history, from its volcanic origins to its contemporary ecological landscape. Those unfazed by creepy crawlies might enjoy Chhote Jeev, Badi Kalpanayein (Imaginary Insects), where they can explore both real and imagined insects to highlight the micro-worlds that sustain Jodhpur’s ecosystems. PATI is also opening the doors to its artist residency housed in a repurposed fourth-generation Marwari haveli for the public to come in and have a look around.
Aside from PATI’s programming, a range of artists and makers will lead workshops around Jodhpur for people to try their hand at. Saksham Arora, a fifth-generation perfumer since 1904, guides participants through traditional ittar-making, introducing them to rare ingredients and letting them take home their own handcrafted fragrance. Richa Arya demonstrates the resourceful art of transforming recycled fabrics into functional items like jholas and garments. Saruha Kilaru leads sessions in drypoint printmaking, an intaglio technique where lines are etched onto acrylic plates that create rich, velvety images when printed. Docustan and Rajasthan Film Collective lead a documentary filmmaking workshop for students, artists, and researchers of all levels. Chenaram Mundel introduces the centuries-old craft of Durrie weaving, walking participants through every step from loom setup to understanding traditional motifs and hands-on weaving. Vijayraj Prajapat offers a session on miniature painting on diyas, teaching fine brushwork and mineral pigment techniques. Finally, the Jaipur Virasat Foundation welcomes audiophiles to experiment with folk instruments, craft their own from recycled materials, and join a jam with local musicians including Mamta Sapera, the first female Kalbelia percussionist, and others from the Langa and Kalbelia communities.
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