Programme Updates

The exhibition is closed, but you can still explore Pipili appliqué here.

OCO Residency Programme 2025

This project aims to document and celebrate the vibrant appliqué craft traditions of Odisha, with a focus on Pipili. By engaging closely with local artisans, it explores the histories, techniques, and symbolic meanings woven into the craft. The emphasis is on safeguarding traditional knowledge and the visual vocabulary that continues to define this living heritage practice.

A collaboration between

OCO Residency 2025 started on

1st August

MGM Foundation

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Bhubaneswar Experimental Art And Design Studio

Residents list:

Raj Maurya, Madhulika S Naidu, Rhea Moras

Vision

This project aims to blur the binary between art and craft, integrating craft practices into pedagogy, exhibition, and cultural history writings.

Dhokra (left) and appliqué craft of Pipli (right) in a stark contrast

Our Story

Odisha Craft Odyssey (OCO) is a collaborative programme between MGM Foundation and BEADS. The project envisions creating an inclusive cultural platform that highlights the craft practices of Odisha, challenging the conventional hierarchies between fine arts and crafts in South Asia.

Odisha Craft Odyssey

Tribal painting of Dongria Kondh from Niyamgiri

The Bell Metal Craft of Odisha

Metal crafts in Odisha boast a rich history, flourishing since the Ganga Dynasty in the 11th century and continuously developing to this day. The village of Balakati in Khordha district stands out for its traditional production of brass, bell-metal utensils, and temple articles. This craft is said to have truly taken root around 1400 AD.

Brass and bell metal, considered “pure” metals, are the primary materials for these utensils. Stepping into Balakati, you’ll be greeted by the rhythmic sounds of hammering and the focused energy of craftspeople.