Chintz  A Global Story: The Karun Thakar Collection

Chintz (known as “sarasa” in Japan) which originated in India, has been used for various purposes such as clothing, religious ceremonies, and interior decoration for thousands of years since its birth. Chintz, which is dyed in vivid colors using natural dyes such as chay and indigo and various techniques, is characterized by its expansive and dense patterns. India has long been at the center of the global textile trade, with chintz serving as a major export commodity. By the 1st century CE, it had already spread to Southeast Asia and Africa, and the establishment of East India Companies in European countries in the 17th century led to its export worldwide. While Indian chintz freely developed its designs to meet the needs of other countries through trade, it indeed contained the Indian aesthetic sense and had a huge influence on all art forms around the world, from decorative arts to clothing.
This exhibition will feature complete pieces of chintz, some measuring up to about eight metres in length, made for the Indian market, as well as wall hanging cloths and clothing that show designs created through trade between Asia and Europe, and precious pieces from domestic collections that show developments in Japan.
This exhibition will be the first in Japan to introduce the collection of Mr. Karun Thakar, one of the world's leading private collectors. We hope you experience the profound charm of Indian chintz, which continues to fascinate people from all over the world.

About the Collector

The collector, Mr. Karun Thakar was familiar with textiles from his young age helping his mother's couture shop in Delhi. Even after moving to the UK with his family, his interest in textiles and crafts never faded, and he began collecting them from Asia and Africa in the 1982. Over the years, his collections have become one of the leading private collection in the world. In 2021, he established the Karun Thakar Foundation in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He put his effort to share the valuable collection with the people in the world through exhibitions and donating to the museums.