In 2006 Matt Butler (Issue 6) travelled to India to work with artists trained in traditions that are being lost due to India’s rapid modernisation. He set up a temporary studio in a village hall in Samparc outside of Mumbai, and Matthew invited religious, tribal, Bollywood, sign-writing artists and schoolchildren to paint on sheets of plywood that were later made into Zaishus (see pic above).
The village of Samparc is unique in that it exists to support children without families (www.samparc.org). The sale of the Zaishu seats will provide income for the artists and assist in providing clothing, housing, education and medical care for its children.
The Zaishu India project has resulted in a unique collection of photographs, film and limited edition Zaishu seats. The Sydney Powerhouse has already acquired two of the Zaishus for their permanent collection and will be hosting a talk given by Matthew at the Sydney premier of the documentary made about the project (www.redearthfilms.com.au/zaishu/).
The India Zaishus will be exhibited at at ‘A Day on Earth’, 8 Arthur St, Fortitude Valley, QLD
Friday May 11 6pm
They are also available for purchase online at http://www.zaishu.com/shop.php
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I think this was a fantastic idea. I have a huge respect for conserving the traditions of the past and believe all too many of them are lost. The great question of “Progress” springs to mind.
In researching my thesis I was talking to local people and some of our oldest traditions and skills would be especially relevant today as the planet screams at us to slow down. In a world of intensified production and indused comsumption it has never been more important.
While travelling in India I bought some toilet paper which had been packaged with a screenprinted sheet of the tissue paper itself. I bought stickers from a child who cut individuall sheets of vinyl and combined them into shapes a dye cutting machine would be proud of.
In Ireland (my home) they used to deliver fresh butter to the door rapped in a cabbage leaf. (Genius) but the simplest thing ever.
It’s never been more hip to do the simple thing in every sense.
Good luck with the next project