Dreamers: Gurjeet Singh X Jaipur Rugs

Gurjeet Singh presents a body of work, in collaboration with Jaipur Rugs, as a tribute to the lives of the artisans and residents of Jaipur. This collection of works serves as a reflection of the artisans’ lifestyle - the works capture not just the realities of their lives, but also the emotions that Gurjeet resonated with most deeply.

As an artist, a consistent theme in Gurjeet’s work has been, and continues to be the exploration of identity, queerness, and the societal pressures that accompany them. With this show, Gurjeet continues to explore the complexities of individuality in relation to the patriarchal and tradition-bound context of the artisan’s lives. Through personal conversations, shared meals, and intimate encounters, Gurjeet witnessed emotional undercurrents and unspoken realities of the artisan’s life. The themes that strongly stood out were the intersections of gender, class, and culture within their environment, and how these influences shape not only their art but their daily lives. The emotions that spoke the loudest to Gurjeet were those of a deep sense of yearning, freedom, hope, ambition, and the desire for self-expression. These sentiments became the very soul of the work and of this collection, and have been weaved into each piece as a collective narrative, one that echoes the shared

emotions of multiple artisans.

The works have been made with repurposed old silk saris, which were then cut into vertical panels and weaved together to create these rugs. Similarly, the soft sculptures have also been created using upcycled fabric salvaged from damaged old rugs that were burnt in an accidental fire. Drawing from the traditional technique of hand-knotting, the artisans have infused each piece with vivid colours, intricate motifs and dynamic forms, to bring to life this body of evocative works. The exhibition consists of 10 handwoven carpets, two large sculptures crafted from up-cycled yarn and a set of drawings.

This exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the universal longing for recognition and the freedom to define one’s own identity. It is an invitation to honor not just the artistry of these individuals, but also their humanity - their quiet aspirations, their unvoiced dreams, and their rightful place in the cultural narrative.

This body of work is the result of a collaborative partnership between Gurjeet Singh and the artisans, with every element, from design to colour palette, created through their combined efforts. The Artisans who worked on this collection with Gurjeet, are Godhi, Boogli, Gajanand, Pinki, Pushpa, Jahir, Nishrat, and Rais.