Patience and precision takes centre stage at a city exhibition

At a time when mechanisation and speed dominate production, National Award-winning designer Sunetra Lahiri’s Elemental 2.0 places the spotlight firmly on the slow, collaborative nature of handcraft. Built over four years, the exhibition foregrounds labour, process and the role of artisans as co-creators rather than invisible executors.For Lahiri, the exhibition is rooted in discipline and continuity rather than scale. “The first Elemental was in 2022, and even before it ended I had begun thinking about what comes next,” she said, describing a creative process that keeps her in the workshop for up to twelve hours a day. “It took four years to build this edition. We don’t mass produce and we don’t duplicate , every piece begins from scratch,” she added, stressing that the work is driven more by legacy than by market logic. The exhibition is powered by a small team of three artisans who have worked with her for over two decades , a collaboration she describes as foundational. “They sit day after day bringing the work to life. This is about honour , for the craft, for nature, and for the artisan,” Lahiri said. Her karigars echoed that devotion to detail. “We are updating our handcraft every day - something the machine can’t replace,” said embroiderer Gobinda Bar. Ganesh Gaine added, “Each work takes a lot of time, as minute detailing is needed,” while Safiullah Gazi, who handles stitching and finishing, spoke of the quiet precision behind each completed piece. Together, their voices reinforced Lahiri’s larger philosophy: that embroidery is not merely embellishment, but a living art form rooted in dignity, patience and shared pride.Visitors to the exhibition responded in similar terms, focusing on craft rather than aesthetics alone. “The detail in each artwork is of a different dimension,” said Dr Debanjan Chakrabarti of the British Council, noting the technical depth visible in the work. Singer Anupam Roy, who also attended the earlier edition, said he “couldn’t miss Elemental 2.0,” while other attendees described the show as a reminder of what sustained hand practice can achieve at a time when artisan networks are shrinking. By centering the voices of both maker and artisan, Elemental 2.0 shifts the conversation from fashion to continuity , arguing, through its very process, that craft survives only where time, dignity and human skill are still valued.“ I’ve seen her work on social media for years, but seeing it in person is a completely different experience. The finish, finesse and colours are just beautiful. We actually connected online back in 2013, and since then I’ve watched her grow from watercolours into embroidery, textiles and home décor. It’s been wonderful to see that journey unfold.” -Nalini Misra Tyabji , mix media artist“ One major work here, Mandalay, took seven and a half months and was inspired by Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and by lines from Alfred Tennyson. Sometimes an image or a line read in childhood stays in your mind for decades before it finally becomes a piece.” - Sunetra Lahiri