Chhandak Jana

"I was born in 1984 in a beautiful city in West Bengal. <br><br> "Since my childhood days, block printing has fascinated me. My area of India is famous for its intricate woodcut prints. However, over time, people have increasingly switched to screen printing. <br><br> "I want to revive the art of the woodcut block print and spread it around the world. <br><br> "I studied fashion and textile designing, and learned the art of block printing during my college days. I began working with printers and weavers in other cities. <br><br> "I love the minute details in woodcut block prints. The fabric looks very beautiful when it's printed. I hope to incorporate natural dyes, with which I am currently experimenting. <br><br> "I began working with just six saris and sold them to my friends and relatives. Selling my first sari was very empowering. Today, I have a small workshop and collaborate with a small team of artisans. They are knowledgeable about the art and share my passion for excellence. <br><br> "My inspiration is found in traditional Indian art, folk art and architecture. <br><br> "I carefully print my fabrics using hand-carved woodcut blocks. The fabric is first put on a flat surface with the inked block on top, and then the back of the block is pressed or gently hammered down to transfer the ink to the fabric. For color printing, multiple blocks are used. <br><br> "I want my workshop to grow so that I can provide regular jobs to artisans and to women who can work from their home. I hope to introduce my craft to more people and demonstrate that block printing is an intricate art form."