From 9th February to 18th February, a group of students from LISAA Paris traveled to India for several workshops on the theme of sustainable fashion design. It was an educational and cultural trip for which the students from LISAA Paris and LISAA Bangalore attended several workshops.
‘East meets West’, A group of 40 Fashion Design Students, 20 of them from LISAA Paris and 20 from LISAA Bengaluru worked on natural fabric dyes made from Indian herbs like Mehandi, mulethi, etc in Bengaluru, which taught them sustainable practices and working with eco-friendly & organic colors. Students learned from master artisans about the types of block printing, pattern dyeing, wood carving techniques – how blocks are made, preparation of pigment print colors, contemporary interpretations of block printing, and much more. Students had to create innovative textile swatches by combining different techniques learned, but with a contemporary treatment.
LISAA organized the visit to Tharangini Studios to give them wide knowledge of the development process of dyeing and hand block printing. Hope they will use it in their projects presented in France.
Dyeing and Hand block printing was something new that French students really liked and were fascinated. We are curious to see what this ‘East meets West’ exploration of indigenous techniques of the local artisans combined with the design sensibilities of the French students, brings about.
“Hand printing by using natural fabric was something new which we have never seen before and we will never forget our visit in Bengaluru,” said Chloe Moulin one of the French students who was totally fascinated by the art.
Also as a part of their visit, they made a day trip to Channapatna, also known as ‘Gombegala Nagara’ or Town of Toys, to specially learn the art of wooden toy and doll making from the local artisans in the small town. The students got hands-on experience with wood-turning techniques with the beauty of lacquer to enhance the visual aesthetic of the craft.
The visit of French students to Channapatna was great learning where they could spend enough time with the craftsmen and understand the development process of the old and traditional craft of Karnataka. They have presented their research work by communicating their design solutions through a series of projects works like photographs, videos, and illustrations.
There is an element of timelessness in the design of these Channapatna toys. We are curious to see what this ‘east meets west’ exploration of indigenous techniques of the local artisans combined with the design sensibilities of the French students, brings about.
“Our overall understanding of the unique craft of toy and doll making in wood gave us a bigger picture of the craftsmen and their lifestyle which revolve around the craft and the raw material and we can drive our research projects based on the information,” .said Margaux Cortin, one of the French students who was totally fascinated by the art.
Channapatna which is a small town located on the Bengaluru – Mysuru highway in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka is world-famous for its traditional wooden toys. Channapatna toys are manufactured in traditional & advanced small-scale industries. This craft brought ample attention to the small town of Channapatna. Now more and more enterprises are seeking such exceptional safe toys available in the town.
Article published in “The Hindu” on 03-March-2020.
From 26th February to 7th March, a group of students from LISAA Rennes and LISAA Paris traveled to India for exceptional workshops on the theme of sustainable design and urban planning. It was an educational and cultural trip for which the final projects were presented to the Alliance Française in Pondicherry.
AN EDUCATIONAL TRIP TO INDIA
A group of Interior Design & Graphic Design students from LISAA Rennes, LISAA Paris & LISAA Bangalore spent ten days in Pondivherry, India in order to take part in exceptional workshops on the theme of sustainable design and urban planning.
This educational trip, under the patronage of Catherine Suard, Consul General of France in Puducherry, and supported by Kiran Bedi, Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, aimed to encourage discussions and exchanges between students at LISAA schools in France and India on the issues of the future.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN AND URBAN PLANNING
The aim of this workshop was to think of new urban planning solutions and renovation projects for Pondicherry, as a “smart city”. The city is effectively cut in two geographically by a big canal. The objective for the young designers and architects was to recreate a link between the so-called “white town” near to the sea and the “grey town” located on the other side of the canal.
For this, they reflected upon the architectural, environmental, and cultural relationships between the historical heritage of this city and the future, rapidly expanding city. Together with this reflection, the technical theme of this workshop was bamboo, eco-friendly material for the future, which is readily available in India.
The Alliance Française in Pondicherry, a partner of this trip, opened the workshop and welcomed the students in order for them to be able to work in groups and carry out their projects.
MEETING PROFESSIONALS
During this trip to India, students traveled to different cities and met professionals at conferences, including Frédéric Landy, director of the French Institute of Research (IFP), geographer, and professor at Paris Ouest Nanterre University.
In order to better understand bamboo as a material, a workshop on usage techniques in design & architecture took place with Shanthamani Muddaiah from the company Bamboo Pecker.
EXHIBITION OF THE PROJECTS AT THE ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE
Students presented their final work – projects called Bamb’art, Puduline, and Look On the Other Side – at an exhibition open to the public in the gardens of the Alliance Française in Pondicherry. The opening event took place on 5th March in the presence of local media who came to find out more about this project bringing together students from France and India.
This educational trip also had a cultural role and the students and their teachers visited several historical sites and monuments including the Mahabalipuram temples.
It was an extremely enriching experience full of exchanges and meetings for the students and a key moment in their year.