Red , yellow and white threads are slowly interlaced to make beautiful mats by 28-year-old Swa minathan, who spends two hours a day weaving mats in his loom at home. Autism isn’t a barrier for the artist in young Swami, who drew portraits of great Indian leaders since he was five.
When he turned 18, his teachers at Vidyasagar advised his parents to admit him to the Employment Education Centre (EEC) of the school where he could further build his artistic capabilities. Developing a keen interest in weaving, Swami mastered the technique in just five years.His woven mats were sold at Vidyasagar’s store. Yet his customer base was limited to his relatives and close friends. The last week, however, has brought in a wave of change for him, as orders poured in after his products were showcased as part of The Artist Project.
Brainchild of budding architect Abhinaya Rangarajan, The Artist Project is a platform to promote talented artists who make handicrafts but lose out on a large audience because of minimal marketing. The rules are simple. If you make handicrafts and are looking for a marketing push then you can be featured.
The initiative, which began in mid-July , now features four artists from different cities and operates through a Facebook page with products ranging from handmade puppets to sculptures.The overwhelming response is a pleasant surprise for the artists. “We have received so many orders that we are sold out! This is very encouraging for Swami as it gives him a feeling of accomplishment,” says Swami’s mother, M Sivasankari, who also helps Swami thread the needle and choose colour combinations. She adds that Swami’s weaving has helped him therapeutically .
Swami’s teachers say initiatives like The Artist Project are critical in developing a career for children with special needs. “Special children have varied areas of intelligence. For Swami, his spatial intelligence is exceptional and he looks at things differently. Projects like these have further built his and his family’s confidence,” says Vidyasagar chairperson Usha Ramakrishnan.
Media consultant Karishma Benjamin from Bangalore says a busy work-life left almost no time for marketing her brand -Bangle Doodle -that began as a hobby . But little did she know that her 3.5ft long colourful floor lamps, made solely from bangles, would receive a positive response through this project. “It was heartening to receive many enquiries about the products from new people,” says Karishma, adding that she plans to train underprivileged women in this craft in the future.
Whether it is textile jewellery or a necklace from sea shells, the personal touch of the products has attracted many customers. “When I bought one of Swami’s mats, it wasn’t just to support a cause. I purchased a good quality product that made me a satisfied customer,” says architect Poornima Nair, explaining how the project has made her aware of many independent artists who `deserve to be known.’ Elaborating on her plans for the future, Abhinaya says, “I’ll be travelling to rural areas to rope in craftsmen,” adding “it is the story behind each handcrafted product that is inspiring”. All it takes to be featured in this initiative is a crisp message to the Facebook page -The Artist Project -about the artist and the handmade product.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Chennai / by Aditi Maithreya, TNN / September 14th, 2015