[from Delhi]
Thanks to my very generous host in Delhi, I had the privilege to be housed for one night at the Sanskriti Museum’s artist residency. A row of humble and tasteful duplex studios decorated with minimal vintage furniture and local textiles through which the sunlight pierced through.
From the major commuter road, one could never imagine this peaceful corner, tucked at the end of a leafy passageway. Night and day, a pack of stray dogs were guarding the museum entrance with devotion.
The Sanskriti Foundation’s private collection comprises everyday art objects and craft from India. It recently underwent major improvements in terms of collection organization and gallery display. The textile museum is particularly impressive with its framed pieces that can be turned like pages in a book — some items encased behind glass are several meters high. With education at its core, the foundation also offers workshops, fellowships and artist residency opportunities throughout the year. The scenic garden dotted with traditional architectural buildings and a variety of animal/celestial creatures, appears as an ideal retreat for the mind.
Anandagram, Mehrauli Gurgaon Road, New Delhi - 110047
Metro Station: Arjangarh
“It is said that this world is like an eternal Banyan tree. Its roots are up in the heavens and its branches are spread downward. Its leaves are hymns. Its branches, nourished by the triple attributes of Nature, are spread upward and downward. Its tender leaves are sensory objects. Its roots, which fetter the soul according to one's deeds, also spread above and below in all directions.”
