Quilt India Foundation

Birds of Paradise: A Symphony of Textile Art presents the vibrant culmination of the annual challenge organized by The Square Inch, India’s first quilting studio. Curated and presented by the Quilt India Foundation, this travelling exhibition brings together 101 juried art quilts created by artists from India and around the world. The project began with a distinctive creative framework. More than 170 participants received the same curated bundle of eight hand-dyed fabrics designed by The Square Inch. Each artist was invited to create a quilt measuring 20 × 20 inches, with these fabrics covering at least 50% of the surface. These constraints became a powerful catalyst for creativity. Starting from identical materials and dimensions, the artists developed strikingly diverse interpretations of the theme “Birds of Paradise.” The resulting works range from bold geometric compositions to fluid abstract forms and richly textured narratives. While some artists evoke tropical birds and vivid landscapes, others interpret the idea of paradise more metaphorically—as a personal refuge, a memory, or a state of mind. The exhibition showcases a wide spectrum of textile techniques, including thread painting, appliqué, intricate quilting, and experimental fabric manipulation. Together, these quilts demonstrate how a shared starting point can lead to a remarkable diversity of artistic voices, revealing the expressive potential of contemporary textile art.