Bhopal: Sanchi and Khajuraho-style stone art at studios this month

BHOPAL: The fading stone craft art of Madhya Pradesh will get a new lease of life with the state government deciding to open studios, where you can buy exquisite sculptures, like those seen at Sanchi Stupa and Badal Mahal Gate of Chanderi. What’s more, art lovers can get customized stone products done — from richly carved stone pillars for homes to stone utensils.

The first such studio, named "The Speaking Stones", will be opened at Hamidia Road in Bhopal within a fortnight, and a second one in Gohar Mahal. The government hopes is to sell stone craft worth Rs 10 crore in the very first year.

Officials said the bigger objective of Speaking Stones is to get work for over 500 stone artists in state who are forced to go to Rajasthan and other parts of the country in search of work. "The stone art of MP is famed for centuries. The art of Khajuraho and Gwalior Palace are the biggest examples," said MP handicrafts and handloom commissioner Rajeev Sharma.

"These stone art studios will offer a range of products from different corners of state that have never been available at one location so far. For instance, marble artwork of Bhedaghat in Jabalpur is available only in Jabalpur now, but you will soon get it in our stone art studios. If someone wants a traditional, artistic home, they can get products like stone gate, pillar or stone art ceiling too,” said Sharma.

Artist will create the products at their locations, which would then be transported to the studios. A survey by the corporation found that there are 200 stone craftsmen each in Gwalior, Morena and Jabalpur and 50 in Katni.

The idea for this came in August, when the government carried out an exercise to find out “unexplored and fading talents” that can be revived and marketed to get artists’ employment, said officials. This could be the second biggest venture of MP Handicraft and Handloom Development Corporation after Mrignayani — the famed crafts studio that has outlets all metros, they said.