Exhibition

Chintz  A Global Story: The Karun Thakar Collection

Saturday, September 13 - Sunday, November 9, 2025

*Tickets can be purchased from HERE

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.