Tilfi debuts at India Art Fair’s 2026 edition of the Young Collectors’ Programme (YCP) as a Programming Partner, unveiling Avimukta: The Never Forsaken at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi. On view from January 31 - February 8, 2026, this inaugural showcase introduces Tilfi’s practice within a contemporary art context, foregrounding craft as a living, evolving system of knowledge.
As a Programming Partner, Tilfi contributes to YCP’s mission of fostering meaningful engagement between emerging patrons and contemporary practices across art, design, and material culture. Avimukta emerges from this context, shaped by our long-standing engagement with the material traditions of Kashi. It reflects on the idea of continuity of materials and ways of making that are held close and carried forward. The installation takes form as a sculptural composition that brings together textile and metal, drawing attention to processes often situated at the margins of production.
At its centre is a vertically scaled structure clad in handwoven silk and zari remnants, assembled to shift what is usually peripheral into focus. In conversation with this textile form is a repoussé metal artwork, Contours of Kashi, tracing the city’s skyline, rendered through traditional metalworking techniques. Together, the elements speak to shared craft sensibilities and material memory embedded within handmade practices.
Through Avimukta, Tilfi invites reflection on material responsibility and mindful production, positioning craft not as a static inheritance but as an ongoing continuum.
About Tilfi
Born in Banaras, Tilfi brings the beauty and cultural wisdom of the age-old craftsmanship of Banaras to the world. The Banarasi traditions represent a living archive where motifs, techniques, and materials have evolved through generations. For us, Banarasi craftsmanship exists as a living knowledge system, one that is layered and carried as an inheritance. Upholding the highest standards of craft and provenance is the foundation of what we do. Collaboration with artisans lies at the heart of our work with the intention to support a sustainable craft ecosystem.
Across textiles, fine clothing, furniture, and Art & Collectibles, historical sensibilities surface subtly through proportion and details. Knowledge is carried through hands and time, refined through repetition and discipline.
About India Art Fair’s Young Collectors’ Programme
Founded in 2008, India Art Fair is the leading platform to discover and celebrate modern and contemporary art from South Asia, spotlighting the next generation of artists alongside modern masters and traditional art forms. India Art Fair’s Young Collectors’ Programme (YCP) is a fast-rising platform, designed to engage a new generation of art collectors, cultural investors, and creative entrepreneurs. Curator-led and year-round, the programme offers exclusive access to cutting-edge art through exhibitions, studio visits, artist-led experiences, and immersive events - connecting young HNIs and professionals with the most compelling voices in contemporary art across South Asia.
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