Odisha Craft Odyssey (OCO) will launch Chandua: Canopies of Labour, a new bilingual publication documenting Odisha’s living appliqué traditions, on 26 September 2026 at the Odisha Research Centre (ORC) Auditorium in Bhubaneswar. The launch forms the concluding event of the inaugural OCO Symposium 2026, titled Mapping Transitions: Art, Craft, and the Ethnographic Turn, which will bring together artists, researchers, cultural practitioners and institutional leaders for a day-long programme.
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A Publication Focused on Craft Communities
According to organisers, Chandua: Canopies of Labour is the result of extensive field research, documentation and archival engagement with Odisha’s Chandua appliqué traditions. Rather than focusing solely on the finished craft object, the publication examines the labour, memory, cultural knowledge and social histories embedded within the making process.
The book is presented in both English and Odia and has been edited by Premjish Achari and Sibdas Sengupta. Research and documentation were undertaken by OCO Fellows Madhulika S. Naidu and Raj Maurya. The publication will be available for purchase at ₹6,500, inclusive of taxes.
Exploring Odisha’s Chandua Tradition
Chandua, often associated with the appliqué traditions of Pipili and other regions of Odisha, occupies an important place within the state’s craft heritage. Odisha remains one of India’s most significant craft centres, with dozens of recognised craft traditions and a large artisan population working across different clusters.
The publication continues OCO’s ongoing effort to document living craft practices through direct engagement with artisans and communities. Previous OCO initiatives have focused on other traditional craft forms, including bell metal work and appliqué traditions, combining field research, exhibitions and publications.
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Symposium Examines New Approaches to Art and Craft
The book launch is embedded within the larger OCO Symposium 2026, which is structured around three thematic panels:
- Art as Social Practice – Artists as Ethnographers: Reimagining Local Knowledge Systems
- The Institutional Bridge – Institution Building between Art, Craft and Anthropology
- Mapping Transitions – Art, Craft and the Ethnographic Turn
The discussions aim to examine how artists, researchers and institutions are engaging with local knowledge systems and changing understandings of craft and ethnographic practice.
Speakers and Cultural Practitioners
Confirmed participants include members of the art, academic and cultural sectors:
- Jeebesh Bagchi (Raqs Media Collective)
- Prof. Bishnu Mohapatra
- Richa Agarwal
- Anupam Roy
- Monisha Ahmed
- Jagannath Panda
The symposium is expected to become an annual platform accompanying future OCO publications and research initiatives.
About Odisha Craft Odyssey
OCO is a collaborative initiative developed by the MGM Foundation and the Bhubaneswar Experimental Art and Design Studio (BEADS). The programme combines fellowships, research projects, residencies, exhibitions, publications and archival work focused on Odisha’s craft traditions. Its broader objective is to create sustained engagement between artisans, artists, researchers and cultural institutions while expanding documentation of regional knowledge systems.
The initiative describes itself as a long-term interdisciplinary platform that documents Odisha’s living craft traditions through field research, oral histories and collaborations with artisan communities.
For more information, visitors can explore the official websites of Odisha Craft Odyssey, BEADS (Bhubaneswar Experimental Art and Design Studio) and MGM Foundation.
Visitor Information
| Event | Details |
| Title | Mapping Transitions: Art, Craft, and the Ethnographic Turn |
| Book Launch | Chandua: Canopies of Labour |
| Venue | Odisha Research Centre (ORC) Auditorium, Samantapuri, Bhubaneswar |
| Date | 26th September to 15th November |
| Symposium Timing | 10:00 AM – 3:45 PM |
| Book Launch Timing | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Organiser | Odisha Craft Odyssey (OCO) |
| Supporting Organisations | MGM Foundation and BEADS |
| Entry / Publication Price | Book priced at ₹6,500 (inclusive of taxes) |
| Website | https://www.odishacraftodyssey.org |
Programme Highlights
- Symposium: 20 September 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:45 PM
- Book Launch: 20 September 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Publication: Chandua: Canopies of Labour
- Language: English and Odia
- Book Price: ₹6,500 inclusive of taxes
Final Thoughts
The launch of Chandua: Canopies of Labour reflects a growing interest in documenting craft traditions through research-led and community-centred approaches. By bringing together scholars, artists, institutions and craftspeople, the OCO Symposium seeks to expand discussions around cultural knowledge, labour and heritage. The event also highlights the continuing relevance of Odisha’s living craft traditions within contemporary artistic and cultural discourse.
