What does it mean for a single line to travel across regions, yet never look the same? From temple towns to coastal ports, from shrine cloth to royal court, the kalam carried stories in natural ink and dye. Its marks may seem familiar, patterned cottons, alive with deities and motifs, but a closer gaze reveals the difference: the sweep of a free hand, the rhythm of a block, the boldness of a shrine, the elegance of courtly stylisation.
The word kalamkari means “drawn with a pen,” but it extends far beyond the pen alone. In Srikalahasti, the artist’s hand traces flowing narratives of gods and goddesses, intertwined with Persian and floral flourishes. In Machlipatnam, the carved wooden blocks stamp arabesque and sacred figures in rhythmic precision.in Gujarat, the ritual cloth of Mata ni Pachedi unfolds as a temple in fabric, where local deities preside in bold, sacred form. In Tamil Nadu, the rare Karuppur Kalamkari brings to life stylised figures and ceremonial grandeur once reserved for royal patrons.
This exhibition brings together the works of Master Artists from across these traditions. Here, you will see not only Hindu and local deities, but also animals leaping into forms, Trees of Life branching across cloth, and narrative scrolls that seem to move as you follow their lines.
At its heart, Kalam: Sacred Lines, Shared Stories invites us to see how a single instrument, the kalam, unites many voices, preserving memory, worship and the enduring power of hand and cloth to shape sacred worlds.
PRESS RELEASE
Kalam: Sacred Lines, Shared Stories
An Exhibition Celebrating the Diversity and Unity of Kalam Traditions.
MeMeraki proudly presents Kalam: Sacred Lines, Shared Stories, a curated exhibition exploring the different traditions of Kalam across India. Inaugurating on the 7th of October and running until the 12th of October, this exhibition brings together the works of Award-winning, generational Master Artists from Srikalahasti, Machlipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, highlighting the regional variations of the sacred Kalam. A highlight of the exhibition is a 200-year-old Mata ni Pachedi from Gujarat, offering visitors a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into a historic ritual textile and its vibrant heritage.
Kalamkari, meaning “drawn with a pen.” is more than mere textile decoration, it is a living tradition that carries stories, devotion, and memory. Visitors will encounter hand-painted narratives from Srikalahasti, block-printed and intricately hand-painted floral and arabesque patterns from Machlipatnam, ritual shrine-cloths of Mata ni Pachedi from Gujarat, and the rare stylised figures of Karuppur Kalamkari from Tamil Nadu. Across these diverse practices, the Kalam unites them, transforming prepared cotton into vibrant cosmologies of local and pan-Indian deities, animals, Trees of Life, and mythological narratives.
Each work in the exhibition is a testament to how the sacred lines traverse regions, languages and centuries, yet carry a consistent devotion and artistry. The exhibition offers the visitors an opportunity to witness the continuity and innovation of India’s textile tradition, based on sacred strokes of the Kalam, illuminating how art preserves cultural memory while inspiring contemporary imagination.
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