The Emerging Contemporary & Conceptual Indian Body Ornament

Jewelry That Makes You Think.

ARTICLE

THE EMERGING CONTEMPORARY AND CONCEPTUAL INDIAN BODY ORNAMENT

A Survey of the Scene

by Anvita Jain

“Defining the ‘contemporary’ and ‘conceptual’ in the context of Indian jewellery and body ornament is a challenge. Adornment that may be avant-garde for one community might be perfectly normal for another. Many forms of traditional jewellery, talismanic for example, perform a conceptual function, sometimes very specific to the individual. After being activated through mantra and ritual, it protects the wearer.”

—Dr. Naman Ahuja, professor of Indian iconography and decorative arts at JNU, New Delhi

Image caption: Bharti Kher, The Skin Speaks a Language Not Its Own, 2006, fiberglass, bindis, 142 x 456 x 195 cm, courtesy of the artist, photo: Tom Phlippoteau

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The next submission deadline is January 27, 2020.

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