Shibapriya Sen

Artisan Organization: Shibapriya Sen

Country: India

"I am a self-taught weaver have been working with crafts from a very early age. Today, I guide a group of artisans who collaborate with me.

"I'm Shibapriya Sen and I was born in West Bengal in 1976. My friends describe me as creative, compassionate and spiritual.

"I spent a lot of time with artisans in other villages to master my craft.

"The handwoven materials I use are difficult to produce, so I try to upcycle as much as I can. I love seeing how the simplest of colors and textures combine to create beautiful designs.

"I work with artisans at a grassroots level. It is always a challenge to work with crafts and craftspeople, especially in a developing country. I enjoy facing these challenges. and overcoming them gives me great satisfaction.

"I love my roots and there is no stronger connection to them than Indian crafts. The play of colors and motifs brought about by the skill of human hands is endlessly satisfying.

"I am very much and almost always inspired by nature. It has been an absolutely huge task to have started out on my own.

"Many artisans from my local community earn their livelihood with me, and you see their aesthetic sense and the fineness of their work. I hope to take Indian handicrafts to connoisseurs and I would like to keep the lamps burning in the homes of talented craftspeople struggling to make ends meet.""