I was encouraged by a number of local
architects to visit the National Institute of Design (NIA) that was set up in
1960 following recommendations from Charles and Ray Eames in their report to
the Indian government. The exhibition the Eames brought to India of modern furniture
in 1956 is still on display. In the library I tracked down the original report by
the Eames of April 1958. This was a seminal document that championed the role
of design through traditional crafts including pottery, painting, stonework,
carving and textiles. The report said architects were best placed to lead the
use of traditional design skills into the future but this was "in spite of
their training" which they saw as "cliché" driven.
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