Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], September 24: The city is going to witness an unusual exhibition on craft practices through the efforts of Odisha Craft Odyssey (OCO), a pioneering cultural initiative by the MGM Foundation and the Bhubaneswar Experimental Art and Design Studio (BEADS). OCO is set to unveil its second research exhibition, titled ‘The Popular Pipli: Threads of Memory, Networks of Power’, curated by Sibdas Sengupta at the Lalit Kala Akademi, Bhubaneswar, on the 21st of September, 2025, from 5 pm onwards. Unlike many art and craft exhibitions, OCO’s exhibitions visualise the complex research survey that was conducted in collaboration with artists, researchers and the artisans. This edition marks a new chapter in the preservation and revitalisation of Odisha’s living heritage. OCO’s second landmark event serves as the public culmination of the 2025 residency, which focused on the vibrant Appliqué craft of Pipli.

The open studio is a direct outcome of OCO’s unique methodology, which prioritises ethnographic research and cross-disciplinary collaboration to challenge the traditional hierarchies between fine arts and crafts. The program, curated by Sibdas Sengupta, embedded three contemporary practitioners—Raj Maurya, Madhulika S Naidu, and Rhea Moras—within the Pipli artisan community. Madhulika S. Naidu traces the historical evolution of Pipli appliqué through motifs, techniques, and social hierarchies, culminating in an installation of co-existing craft epistemologies. Rhea Moras examines stitching techniques as embodied knowledge, foregrounding women’s voices and collective authorship through participatory projects and material explorations. Raj Maurya documents labour networks in Pipli appliqué using archival methods and cyanotype to reflect on memory, absence, and the repetitive nature of craft-making. During their residency, they engaged in a meticulous process to “unravel the making” of the craft, documenting its intricate techniques and cultural significance through comprehensive field notes and collaborative projects. This research-based approach elevates the craft from a mere artefact to a dynamic field of study, providing new avenues for artistic expression and academic discourse.