The delicate and dexterous art of Shola, native to Bengal, will be the subject of an exhibition at Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), starting July 17.
The exhibition titled Green Ivory is an initiative by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Kolkata. The three-day exhibition aims to revive the Shola craft tradition of Bengal with workshops and interactions apart from the exquisite exhibition that will showcase varieties of unexplored ritualistic, decorative and contemporary products of Shola.
While on the first day an official website dedicated to the art will be launched, a three-day workshop will throw the opportunity to interact with 30 Shola artists coming from various parts of West Bengal. The final day will engage you in a panel discussion on Opportunities and Innovations with Shola.
Shola (Aeschynomene aspera) is a milky white, delicate spongy plant found in the marshlands of Bengal and it is the pith of the reeds of the plant that is used to make items of decoration. There are about 7000 people associated with Shola across Alipurduar, Coochbehar, Dakshin Dinajpur, Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum and Bardhaman.