Ethnic Art for me is a unique ancient style of Indian traditional art passed on from one generation to the next (Paramparik Kala). To create new classicism one has to understand our ancient designs and traditional crafts. To create unique contemporary form one has to make innovative use of traditional embroidery.

Ethnic art means æPARAMPARIC KALAÆ. India has very rich ethnic background and culture. In Rajasthan there is a saying that patterns on the womanÆs ghagara and manÆs turban change at every twenty four miles. Such is the variety of ethnic wear we have in India.

Each state in India has got its unique style of embroidery or painting.  They have their own design patterns or motifs which are highly influenced by nature, flowers, animals, Gods, Goddesses, birds and also architectural structure for geometrical patterns. They use different types of threads like silk, cotton, jute, leather, twisted or untwisted. Every state uses different set of traditional colors. All colors symbolize different objects or emotions, like red is color of ôChunariö the tie-dyed Sari and the symbol of ôSuhagö. Yellow is the color of spring, Yogi wears saffron color, blue or Neela is the color of Lord Krishna. Also most of the embroidery uses different types of stitches from simple darning stitch to complicated lace type Kacchi tanka.

Mainly there is Kantha of Bengal, Phulkari of Punjab, Karnataki Kasuti, Kashmiri Kashidakari, Chikankari from Lucknow, Kacchi Bharat and Abla work from Gujrat and Sindh, Applique and patch work from Bihar and Zardosi influenced by Mughals. In India one find beautiful Tribal Paintings from different states like WARLI, GOND, KALAMKARI & MADHUBANI Painting. One can create fusion from painting and embroidery.