The Kalhath Institute, established in 2016, is the brainchild of Maximiliano Modesti, a craft entrepreneur based out of Mumbai and Paris. Kalhath is a training centre for the artisans of Lucknow and its surrounding areas, and offers a ‘Residency Programme’ that is one-of-a-kind, in that it facilitates the seamless blending of the world of art and craft through a collaborative exercise between the artist and the artisan with the use of a plethora of natural materials, ranging from silk and cotton thread to jute and the like, retaining their distinctive characteristics.
The craftsmen on the Kalhath team are specialists in hand embroidery. Their craft covers the techniques of Zardosi, Ari, and a host of others, passed down through generations of craftsmen. The residents are encouraged to utilize the artisanal resources at Kalhath for the duration of their residency in an environment that is symbiotic in nature. In the recent past, Kalhath has had artists such as T. Venkanna and Pierre Roy Camille – supported by the French Institute in India – create artworks with their artisans.
Char Bagh area, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
Lucknow, the golden city of the east, has been celebrated for its magnificent historical heritage and handicraft. Regarded as one of the multicultural cities of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow has always been at the forefront in promoting art and craft, be it Chikankari, Zardozi or Zarbuland. Today, Lucknow is home to skilled artisans who create some of the finest handicrafts famed across the world.
Kalhath is strategically located in a heritage bungalow in the Char Bagh area of Lucknow in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.