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Curatorial note

Sibdas Sengupta 

This to continue the vision of the project, Odisha Craft Odyssey, which aims to document all living craft practices through cross-disciplinary dialogues among the fields of Art, Lens-based Practices, Design, and Research. As the second iteration of Odisha Craft Odyssey, we invite practitioners to engage with this edition’s craft initiatives. With this edition, the Practitioners in Residence will participate in a six-week residency, closely working and understanding various nuances of Appliqué craft in Pipli, near Bhubaneswar.

 

Through this programme, the residents are expected to make interventions through their respective practices by analyzing the layers of particularities that contribute to the documentation of this living tradition of Odisha. In this way, the residents are anticipated to develop their artistic inquiries to create conceptual frameworks that could destabilize the epistemic knowledge of the craft, as perceived in the present. The core of the residency programme encourages exploration, pushing the boundaries from disciplinary engagement to community-driven collaboration.

 

We aspire for this project to lead to various intricate narratives that can shift perspectives on the history of the craft. Similarly, since this project seeks to move beyond conventional documentation approaches, we aim to engage with artistic practices and methodologies that foreground alternatives in documenting craft histories, the personal aspects of creation, and the narratives of artisanal identities through cultural and historiographic mobilizations.

Who can apply 

  • Practitioners from the field of Contemporary Art, Lens-Based Practice, Design, and writers from the field of Research.

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  • The applicant must be an Indian National.   

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  • There is no age limit to the applicants. 

Structure of the Programme

The selected contemporary Artists, Designers, and Researchers will immerse themselves in the rich tradition of Appliqué craft in Pipli, Odisha, during their six-week residency.​

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Phase I - Research

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Working with the  Appliqué artisans at Pipli, Puri, Odisha (24 kms away from Bhubaneswar, Odisha)

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  • Duration: 4 weeks. 

  • Accommodation: Accommodation will be provided close to the craft cluster with access to a studio space at the site.  

  • Food: Breakfast and Lunch will be provided by the programme.

  • Curatorial and local assistance: A member from the OCO curatorial team and the BEADS team will be present at the site to support the residents.

​​​​Phase II - Production


Working in Bhubaneswar for developing each resident’s projects for the Open-Day event at Bhubaneswar.   

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  • Note: This includes conceptualization of the project display and relevant productions required for each resident in relation to their research and project proposal. 

  • Duration: 2 weeks. 

  • Accommodation: Accommodation will be provided at Bhubaneswar with access to creative spaces as per the demands of the final Open Day display 

  • Food: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner will be taken care of. 

Number of residents to be selected for the programme

2 Residents

From the field of Contemporary Art or Lens-Based Practice or Design.  

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1 Resident

From the field of writing and research.

What the residents will get 

  1. Round trip airfare to Bhubaneswar 

  2. Travel support to Craft Cluster and movements in Bhubaneswar. 

  3. Food and Accommodation.

  4. An honorarium of INR 25,000 for the Residency Programme to resident. 

  5. A production budget of INR 15,000 to realize the project.  

  6. An Open Studio/Exhibition at Bhubneswar by the End of the Residency.

  7. The potential residents get an extended opportunity to be part of the 8-month OCO Fellowship Programme 2025-26 as an extension to the residency programme. 

Kindly share your application with the requirements mentioned: 

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  • A project proposal, either an audio (Max 5 mins) or a written text (Max 500 words), outlining the scope of research and inquiry the residents would like to engage with, while working with the Appliqué artisans and Pipli craft cluster.

    Note: The language for the audio and writing the proposal can be Odia, English, Hindi and Hinglish. The project proposal should outline what the applicant wants to do during the residency period, How the project it is connected to their overall practice. Why is this project important? And how the project will be realized during the residency tenure.   ​

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  • A selection of works relevant to the proposal (Minimum 5 works and Maximum 10 works) or published writings (minimum 2), showing the research areas the researcher has been interested in.  ​

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  • Concept note on your practice (not more than 300 words).
     

  • Updated Resume (not more than 2 pages). 
     

  • The application must be sent as single pdf file along the cover letter to odishacraftodyssey@gmail.com with the subject line: “Applicant’s Name, OCO Residency Programme - 2025.” 

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Residency Period: 1st August - 15th September 2025
Deadline of the Open Call: 10th July 2025

How to apply

Expectations and deliverables

Through this project, we would like to: 
 

  • Unravel the Making: Focus on the intricate processes, techniques, and tools of Appliqué working.

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  • Social and Caste Dynamics: Explore the social relations and caste status associated with Appliqué artisans, placing these dynamics within broader cultural and economic contexts. 

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  • Integrated Exhibition Practices: Present craft practices alongside contemporary art to dissolve the binary between art and craft, encouraging a holistic appreciation of both. 

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  • Ethnographic surveys: One of the essential methods of this project is to engage in ethnographic surveys of the craft clusters of Odisha. In this edition, we will engage with Appliqué workers of Pipli. 

Ethnographic Research and Engagement

Ethnographic research is at the heart of this project, ensuring a deep, respectful, and meaningful engagement with the Appliqué craft community. Researchers, artists, and designers will:

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  • Document Practices: Record detailed observations of Appliqué working processes, techniques, and cultural significance. 

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  • Prepare Field Notes: Maintain comprehensive field notes to capture daily interactions, insights, and reflections. 

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  • Collaborate Closely: Work closely with the artisans, ensuring an equal exchange of knowledge and skills. 

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  • Amplify Voices: Provide a platform for the artisans to share their stories, challenges, and perspectives. 

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