Colours of Sanganer

Durgesh Nandini Bais is presently working as Principal, Government Women Polytechnic College, Udaipur. She has a teaching experience of over 25 years and is a serious amateur photographer.

She has participated in 6th, 22nd & 24th IIPC (India International Photographic Council) Workshops & Conferences held at Jaipur( I 986), Indore(2004) & Jodhpur (2006) and photography workshops conducted by Better Photography Magazine in Delhi(2001) & Jaipur, Fashion Photography conducted by NITTTR, Chandigarh(20I5). She has also participated in group photo exhibitions like n2s2rbmad (2011), Focus and Jaipur Photographers Club 2012, 2013,2014. She participated in 15th & 16th Kala Mela 2012, 2013 respectively. She took part in the FIP Convention held at Udaipur in 2016 and Desert workshop at Jaisalmer in December 2016.

Her images got printed in Better Photography magazine and other magazines. She has published Coffee Table Books: `Jharokha' in 2014 and 'Saga of Sambhar Salt workers' in 2015.

The vivid photographs in the 'Colours of Sanganer' speak to the reader narrating the stories of the lives of the creators of these prints which are interwoven with those hung metres of cloth. Sanganer is the hub of the traditional craft of block printing and these photographs on the pages that follow take you on the journey of the making. The book provides one with the technical knowledge of the craft as well as is a visual treat for anyone and everyone.

In quintessence, this book illustrates about the art of `Sanganer Block printing'; a timeworn tradition. Durgesh Nandini has nimbly combined the beauty of emotions of human beings along with the work that they are doing. The resultant art is mingled and inseparably mixed in a feast of visual conversations. Her continual efforts to discover herself and her environment, together with the culture, legends, history has kept her journey enduring.

An adept artist of varied qualities, the author is a remarkable amalgam of a photographer and distinguished academician. She is a multi-faceted personality having a deep concern and empathy for the common people, their problems and aspirations. She has vibrantly and exquisitely expressed this traditional art form through her pictures.

Her creative works span from landscapes, street, table top photography which encompass the multiple sides of all the above-mentioned topics. Her versatility can be seen in the diverse aspects of photography that she has grasped.

The 'Colors of Sanganer' conveys the story of this undying craft which has made its existence world-over. I am optimistic that this will outreach to the larger community of artists and art lovers and may enthuse everyone who views it.