British Council presents Folk Archive in Kolkata

The exhibition opened in Kolkata at Victoria Memorial Hall on Tuesday and will be on for public viewing till January 7, 2015.

Folk Archive celebrates activity from a vast range of British pastimes and pursuits, and demonstrates that folk art in the UK is both widespread and vigorous.

The exhibition brings together drawing, painting, film, performance, costume, decoration, political opinion and humour, and some astonishing objects. It includes work from prisoners and community groups, Notting Hill Carnival troupes, protesters, pop fans, teenagers, villagers and the homeless.

Folk Archive blurs the lines between traditional categories of ‘fine arts’, design, crafts, folk and daily creativity.

Folk Archive demonstrates through its quirkiness- the presentation of hand crafted objects, festivals, and the aspirations of people, that art is not something removed from our daily lives.

The exhibition will demonstrate the rich variety of British art and creativity, beyond what audiences may be familiar with, and create at the same an unexpected and complex cross cultural dialogue.

Rob Lynes, Director British Council India said: “Folk Archive, an exhibition by leading artists Jeremy Deller and Alan Kane, captures creativity in everyday life in contemporary UK. The British Council is delighted to present this exhibition in Kolkata and Delhi after the success of Mumbai display. With our partners Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai, Victoria Memorial, Kolkata and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Delhi, we are confident that this show will be seen by thousands of individuals across the country. The exhibition is part of the British Council’s Collection, its "Museum without Walls", and it’s exciting because through the outreach activities planned around this project we hope to see a reflection of contemporary India as well.”  

Sujata Sen, Director, British Council East India said: “The British Council is delighted to bring this wonderful exhibition, ‘Folk Archive’ to Kolkata. Our aim is to help showcase exciting new work in the arts, promote arts education and encourage cultural skills development. Folk Archive is essentially a collection of artefacts that blurs the lines between traditional categories of art. Alan and Jeremy describe the Folk Archive as a collection of things that 'the individuals come through'. The collection is made by people who have, quite simply, created things to convey their message.”