A stitch into the future, Jammu's timeless Aari craft is being redefined on paper

Jammu's traditional Aari embroidery has entered a new era with an innovative Paper Aari Art exhibition, where intricate Aari needlework has been created on paper for what the artist claims is a world first. The exhibition celebrated Jammu's rich embroidery heritage while introducing a unique contemporary art form.

The artworks, created by Ritu Gupta, blended the region's celebrated Aari embroidery with delicate paperwork, offering visitors a fresh perspective on the centuries-old craft.

Ritu Gupta said embroidering on paper is extremely challenging and required precision, dedication, and extensive effort. She also introduced artwork created on leaves as another creative innovation.

The exhibition, jointly organised by Kala Kendra Society, Jammu, and Global Aari Paperwork, featured around 50 artworks at the Master Sansar Chand Gallery.

Following the overwhelming response, Kala Kendra announced plans to organise workshops to train young artists in Paper Aari Art, helping preserve and expand this unique innovation for future generations.