Author Archives: Simon Rein

Celebrating India’s Independence on Google Arts & Culture

Information can empower people, their cultures and their sense of history. It can also help us understand the world around us today. That’s why we built Google Arts & Culture — to put the world’s cultural treasures at anyone’s fingertips and help museums and other cultural organizations share more of our diverse heritage with the world.

Today, ahead of the Independence Day of India on August 15, we’re launching a new collection: ‘India Ki Udaan’, published in English and Hindi. This collection celebrates India’s unwavering spirit and its 75 years of independence, and the literal title translation means “India takes flight”. It allows anyone to explore more than 120 illustrations and 21 stories created by 10 talented artists, alongside exhibitions from various institutions across India — including the Ministry of Tourism, Museum of Art & Photography, Heritage Directorate of the Indian Railways, the Indian Academy of Sciences and the Dastkari Haat Samiti. This initiative offers a unique view of India and lets people discover some of the most memorable moments in India's modern history, its iconic personalities, its proudest scientific and sporting achievements, and how women in India continue to inspire the world.

Relive the moments of a newly independent India

On August 15, 1947, India gained independence from British rule following the Independence Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and his message of nonviolent resistance. ‘India Ki Udaan’ takes people back to the Independence Day Celebrations in 1947 and Jawaharlal Nehru being sworn in as the first Prime Minister of Independent India. It tells the story of how the Indian Constitution was drafted over three years, as well as India’s first general elections which consisted of a sixth of the world’s population going to vote — making it the largest election in the world at the time. Explore the majestic Red Fort, lying at the heart of Delhi, where India’s Prime Minister hoists the National Flag from the monument's ramparts each year on Independence Day.

Discover the steps of progress

In December 1946, Sarojini Naidu, one of the women members of the Constituent Assembly, said during the First Session of the Constituent Assembly: “[…] I hope the smallest minority in this country will [...] be represented.” In 2015, Madhu Bai Kinnar made history when she became India’s first transgender Mayor in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh Municipal Corporation. Another important step was the historic Decriminalization of Section 377 on September 6, 2018, when homosexuality was legalised and love was constitutionally recognised. Each of these victories have opened doors for a more hopeful future.

  • Black and white photo of a large crowd of people in a room watching two men standing in the center with a microphone stand.

    The photo shows Jawaharlal Nehru being sworn in as First Prime Minister of Independent India on August 15, 1947.

  • Illustration of a bald man wearing gold wire rimmed glasses and white clothing with his palms pressed together in prayer position, against a blue background.

    Mahatma Gandhi is perhaps the most celebrated Indian public figure in the world. His ideas and words have influenced many of the world's most powerful political leaders, freedom fighters, social activists, thinkers, and artists alike: from Martin Luther King to Nelson Mandela to John Lennon.

  • Black and white photo of a circular room with windows, with rows of people sitting on benches and looking at loose papers.

    The Constitution of India was adopted on January 26, 1950. The 299 member Constituent Assembly drafted the Constitution of India over three years. The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly was attended by 205 members, including 9 women.

  • Illustration of a person wearing traditional pink and green Indian clothing, colorful earrings, red painted nails, palms pressed together in prayer position, against a pink, purple, magenta patterned background.

    On January 4, 2015, Madhu Bai Kinnar made history when she became India’s first transgender Mayor in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh Municipal Corporation.

  • Illustration of a person wearing a large rainbow skirt in front of a crowd of people holding rainbow flags and looking happy, outdoors.

    On September 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalized homosexuality. A five-judge constitutional bench struck down the 1861 colonial-era law, which remained in force for 157 years.

  • Illustration of an octagonal prism structure with a purple, red, orange grid patterned and labeled “Aryabhata” floating in outer space between stars and two planets.

    Named after a prominent Indian astronomer and mathematician of the 5th century CE, the Aryabhata was India's first satellite. It carried scientific instruments to explore conditions in Earth’s ionosphere, measure neutrons and gamma rays from the Sun, and perform investigations in X-ray astronomy.

  • Illustration of an astronaut in a space suit with the helmet down, against a backdrop of outer space, a rocket, a satellite, and three planets.

    Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, an Indian Air Force pilot, is the first Indian citizen to have traveled to outer space. Sharma spent 7 days, 21 hours, and 40 minutes aboard the Salyut 7 during which his team conducted scientific and technical studies.

Learn about India's achievements in outer space

Did you know that India had its own Antarctic research base? Or that India’s first uncrewed satellite was launched in 1975? On that day, India became the world’s 11th nation to send a satellite into orbit. Nine years later, Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian who traveled beyond Earth.

…and in sports

  • Illustration of a boxer dressed in orange long sleeve shirt with the flag of India on it, hands up in green boxing gloves, against a dark blue background of a boxing ring, flowers, and stars.

    Nikhat Zareen won the gold medal at the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, in Istanbul.

  • Illustration of a runner mid-run in a racetrack wearing tan colored tanktop with “India 16” on it, shorts, and shoes. A crowd watches from the bleachers labeled “Asian Games”.

    Milkha Singh, known as the Flying Sikh, is the only athlete to win gold at 400 meters at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, in 1958.

  • Illustration of a group of 5 people with their hands up, holding a large golden medal labeled “XIV OLYMPIAD LONDON 1948”, against an orange and yellow striped background.

    India’s Olympic gold in field hockey in 1948 was the newly sovereign nation’s first major sporting triumph.

  • Illustration of a person in a suit holding a silver cup medal, against a colorful background of athletes, sports equipment, flowers, confetti, and traditional Indian patterns.

    In 1983, the India cricket team defeated the West Indies by 43 runs at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London, winning its first World Cup.

Get inspired by Indian women

Women in India have played a huge part in shaping the rich culture of the country, revolutionizing the fields of science, technology, mathematics, politics and more. Meet Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, India’s first Health Minister – an enormous breakthrough for women’s representation in the newly independent country. Learn about more firsts: Leila Seth, the first female Chief Justice of India, and Bhanu Athaya, the first Indian Oscar winner. Or get to know Anuradha T.K., a scientist who joined the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1982, and became the first woman to be a satellite project director there. Or Vidita Vaidya, a neuroscientist who studied emotions and the brain, particularly when it came to depression.

10 years of Google Arts & Culture in India

Time flies when you’re working on something you’re passionate about. Google Arts & Culture’s journey in India started in 2012 when the National Museum and National Gallery of Modern Art joined our platform, and has since continued. We are proud to have partnered with local institutions to bring India’s cultural heritage to people all around the world – from immersive tours of World Heritage Sites like the Taj Mahal and Hampi, to close-ups of Raja Varma’s lavish paintings, unforgettable journeys by Indian Railways, and detailed stories about pioneering Indian women.

Today, millions of people from across the world can explore 2,100 exhibitions provided by over 100 partners in India. They can also experience incredible India in 360 degrees, as never seen before. Take a journey across Hampi, Goa, Delhi and Amritsar, and explore the places and people that make each of these iconic Indian sites incredible.

  • Color photograph of a person painting a pattern onto a leather shoe, surrounded by a pile of leather shoes.

    Discover the story behind jutti - a type of leather shoe decorated with extensive embroidery.

  • Painting of a person holding a small round fruit in one hand, dressed in traditional Indian clothing and jewelry, looking off to the side, against a grey background.

    In this soft, naturalistic painting of a young woman, the aristocratic Raja Varma introduced a new visual language to Indian art. This sensuous portrait remains one of his most affecting works.

  • Close up color photograph of a hand painting with blue paint a black and white illustration of the Indian god Ganesh on leather.

    Test your knowledge of India’s art forms with Guess That Craft and see how India's unique craftsmanship helps define this nation.

  • Black and white photograph of a large outdoor stone structure with rounded roofs, surrounded by trees, towers, and a large pool of water in the forefront.

    The Taj Mahal needs no introduction. Built by emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the marble mausoleum is one of the crowning achievements of the Mughal Empire and one of the seven Wonders of the World. Experience this great monument through a virtual tour.

  • Black and white photograph of a large outdoor mound of earth, with tall stone edifices in front of it.

    Sanchi Stupa, a Buddhist complex, is one of the oldest stone structures in India and an important monument of Indian Architecture. It’s famous for its Great Stupa – which translates roughly as “heap” from Sanskrit. You can also explore it in 3D.

  • Color photograph of an intricate exterior of a tan, white, grey building with archways, pillars, and ornate carvings.

    Though millions use this train station every day, the majesty of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus never goes unnoticed. You can explore it in 360 degrees at Google Arts & Culture.

  • Color photograph of a glass bowl of honey, mortar and pestle with green leaves, a vial of yellow clear liquid, and various loose spices against a white background.

    Āyurveda, the ‘Science of Life’, originated in ancient India and is thought to be one of the earliest medical sciences in the world. Discover the various ingredients used in Āyurveda medicine.

  • Intricate woven cloth split into three visual sections, each one with a border of red and yellow pattern, depicting an abstract vase of flowers against a red background.

    As the Mughal kings traveled around their kingdom, they slept in adorned tents called Kanat. This lavish tent hanging of the early 18th century is befitting of the royal entourage.

  • Color photograph of a dark grey statue of a person in a robe with their eyes closed, standing barefoot with a flat circle behind their head, against a white background.

    Standing Buddha is an aesthetically stunning example of Gupta art. The Buddha’s following grew even further in the years after his passing, and he became a frequent subject of Indian art. Follow the stages of his life depicted through sculpture.

  • Faded illustration of a person with four arms holding a piece of jewelry, plants, a cloth, and papers, dressed in an orange robe and standing barefoot among white lotus flowers.

    This painting of a divine woman robed in saffron is an early depiction of Bharat Mata, or ‘Mother India’ – a personification of India as a mother goddess. You can study Abanindranath Tagore’s painting also in augmented reality on your smartphone.

To our more than 100 Indian partners, a huge thank you. And by partners, we mean everyone: curators taking the time to create a stunning online exhibition, the art handlers who help digitize thousands of spaces and archives, the preservation expert sharing fragile treasures, the directors who believe in participating in an online platform, and everyone else behind the scenes.

We hope that the merging of new technologies and India’s rich cultural heritage will provide many more opportunities to share compelling stories, exhibits and experiences that can be enjoyed by anyone, wherever they might be. As we go forward, we’ll continue to work with partners and artists to enrich the collection.

How machine learning revived long lost masterpieces by Klimt

Few artists enjoy such worldwide fame as Gustav Klimt. The new Google Arts & Culture online retrospective "Klimt vs. Klimt - The Man of Contradictions" puts the spotlight on the artist's eclectic work and life. A Machine Learning experiment recolored photographs of lost Klimt paintings, while a “Pocket Gallery” brings some of his most iconic works into your living room in augmented reality and 3D. Together with more than 120 stories about his art and personality, a virtual tour of his studio, and many more highlights from the collections of over 30 cultural institutions around the world, "Klimt vs. Klimt" forms one of the most comprehensive online experiences about the artist.

Klimt’s legacy poses many unsolved questions, not least due to the fact that approximately 20% of his artworks were lost over the course of history. Among the most prominent and painful losses are the so-called Faculty Paintings, created on behalf of the University of Vienna and rejected by the latter for being overly critical towards science. In 1945, only days before the Second World War ended, the paintings were lost to a fire at Immendorf Castle in Austria. What these major works looked like could only be guessed at from black and white photographs taken in the early 1900s, unable were they to convey the magic that makes Klimt’s artworks so captivating — the bold colours, the revolutionary approach to textures, the shocking directness of his figures. Until today.

Using the opportunities offered by machine learning, enhanced by the knowledge of internationally renowned Klimt expert and curator at the Belvedere, Dr. Franz Smola, the team at the Google Arts & Culture Lab was able to reconstruct the colours that Klimt might have used for the Faculty Paintings, thus restoring them to their fully colored beauty. For the first time in 70 years, people can experience his artworks in the colors he might have used.

  • A GIF showing Klimt’s Faculty Painting “Medicine” gradually changing from black-and-white to its recolored version

    Discover how the Faculty Paintings could be recolored combining Machine Learning and expert knowledge.

  • Dr. Franz Smola at the Google Arts & Culture Lab

    Curator Dr. Franz Smola and engineer Emil Wallner working at the Google Arts & Culture Lab.

  • The recolored version of Klimt’s Faculty Painting “Jurisprudence”

    Explore the recolored photo of Klimt’s Faculty Painting “Jurisprudence”.

  • The recolored version of Klimt’s Faculty Painting “Philosophy”

    The recolored photo of Klimt’s Faculty Painting “Philosophy”.

  • A black-and-white photograph from 1928 showing the original Faculty Paintings at the 99th Vienna Secession exhibition.

    In 1928 the Faculty Paintings were on display at the 99th exhibition of the Vienna Secession.

Experience the art of Klimt in new ways online

The paintings are the true centerpiece of “Klimt vs. Klimt”. The retrospective brings together more than 120 of the artist’s most famous masterpieces, as well as lesser known works, and assembles an expertly curated selection in an immersive Pocket Gallery that you can experience in augmented reality on mobile or in 3D on web. This was made possible thanks to a collaboration between Google Arts & Culture and over 30 partners and institutions - with the Belvedere, the Albertina, the Klimt Foundation, the Neue Galerie New York and the Metropolitan Museum of Arts among them. Over 60 masterworks by Klimt have also been captured in ultra high resolution with Google’s Art Camera. Come in closer to see “The Kiss” like never before!

  • View on the 3D model of the virtual gallery

    An AR/3D gallery allows to get fully immersed in Gustav Klimt’s work for a unique exhibition experience.

  • Gustav Klimt’s painting “Adele Bloch-Bauer I” featuring his classical use of gold as a dominating colour

    In more than 120 stories, Klimt lovers and newcomers can get familiar with his art, including his many portraits.

  • Black-and-white-photograph of Gustav Klimt standing in front of his studio, holding a cat on his arm

    They can stroll through the painter’s final studio and trace how Klimt, himself rather shy, became the pioneer of the revolutionary Secession art movement.

  • Black-and-white-portrait of Emilie Flöge

    Discover how the man who is said to have had numerous affairs stayed true to his lifelong companion Emilie Flöge.

Klimt expert Dr. Franz Smola

Meet the expert — Dr. Franz Smola


While creating “Klimt vs. Klimt” the Google Arts & Culture team was advised and guided by Dr. Franz Smola, curator at the Belvedere and acknowledged around the world as one of the foremost Klimt experts. He shared some of his thoughts on working on the project:

Why are Klimt’s Faculty Paintings so important?

Klimt´s three Faculty Paintings were among the largest artworks Klimt ever created and in the field of Symbolist painting they represent Klimt’s masterpieces.

What do you think about the recolored versions?

The colors were essential for the overwhelming effect of these paintings, and they caused quite a stir among Klimt´s contemporaries. Therefore the reconstruction of the colors is synonymous with recognizing the true value and significance of these outstanding artworks.

Is there something the digital presentation adds to how Klimt and his artworks can be perceived?

I am deeply impressed by the fantastic images taken with Google’s Art Camera. They allow you to really explore a work of art, to jump into its texture and color application and to discover every detail in the easiest way possible. I also like how technology allows ideas to come to life that have always been merely hypothetical — I am thinking of the Pocket Gallery we created, which contains a highlight selection of Klimt’s paintings including some of which were lost.

If Klimt was still alive - how do you think he would engage with digital technologies?

Klimt was a highly visual figure. He rarely commented on his work, rather inviting people to look at the work alone and draw their own conclusions. The “Klimt vs. Klimt” project primarily uses visual, non-verbal tools to convey Klimt’s work, which is very much in line with Klimt’s character. Klimt liked to lead a rather secluded life within the walls of his studio, to which only a few had access. I am certain he would have liked the idea of jumping from this remote and quiet place into the World Wide Web, having access to millions of artworks and seeing his art distributed and communicated around the world.

To explore “Klimt vs. Klimt - The Man of Contradictions” visit g.co/klimtvsklimt or download the free Google Arts & Culture app for iOS or Android.

Music, Makers & Machines

In 1895, Thaddeus Cahill, an inventor from Iowa, started work on the world’s first electromechanical musical instrument. Weighing in at 200 tons and measuring 60 feet long, the Telharmonium was a colossal machine for producing and sharing music on the telephone.


In the 126 years since, electronic music has evolved in similarly bold and ingenious ways, a testament to the magic that occurs when human beings build and interact with machines. We listen to it while working out, riding the subway, studying for exams — and hopefully soon again at the clubs and festivals that have made it what it is today.


Music, Makers & Machines, the new exhibit from Google Arts & Culture and YouTube, celebrates the history of electronic music: its inventors, artists, sounds and technology. More than 50 international institutions, record labels, festivals and industry experts have come together to capture the crucial role electronic music plays within wider culture, from the WDR Studio for Electronic Music to Blacktronika to the “Diva of the Diodes” Suzanne Ciani. There are more than 250 online exhibitions, an extensive archive of photos, videos, 360° tours and 3D-scanned objects, including synthesizers and the door of Berlin’s legendary Tresor techno club.


In the spirit of pioneers like Cahill, you can also compose your own electronic music. Use the augmented reality feature of AR Synth to mix and match five famous synthesizers in a virtual electronic music studio.


MUSIC: Let’s get to know some of the legendary tracks and artists:

  • Bernie Worrell (c) Brian Diescher - Bob Moog Foundation

    Follow King Britt (DJ, label founder and professor at University of California San Diego) to explore Black innovators in electronic music in the Blacktronika exhibit, which even comes with its own soundtrack. (c)Brian Diescher - Bob Moog Foundation

  • Brief History of Early Dubstep

    Georgina Cook’s Brief History of Early Dubstep talks us through the early days of the genre, starting with its underground beginnings in South London.

  • Detroit Techno
    Along with R'n'B, soul, funk, and hip-hop, Detroit Techno is one of the recent major stylistic inventions in African-American pop music.

  • Phatmedia

    One of Europe’s biggest flyer collectors, phatmedia, has contributed about 10,000 of their digitized flyers, which tell the history of electronic music in the UK from Early Rave and Drum’n’Bass to Hardcore and House.

MAKERS: Go behind the scenes in studios and see iconic inventors in action:

  • Suzanne Ciani

    Learn more about five-time Grammy nominated electronic music icon Suzanne Ciani and her 50-year career. (c)Suzanne Ciani

  • WDR Studio

    Explore the WDR Studio for Electronic Music in Cologne, Germany, one of the world’s first studios for electronic music and made famous by composer Karlheinz Stockhausen.

  • Bob Moog

    Explore the life of Bob Moog, best known for inventing the Moog synthesizer in 1964, which revolutionized the world of music by providing musicians with access to an expanded sonic universe. (c)Bob Moog Foundation

  • Tresor door

    Few other clubs have defined techno as much as Tresor in Berlin, which opened in 1991.

MACHINES: Play with the instruments that made the tunes: 


  • AR Synth

    Turn your home into an electronic music studio using AR Synth (g.co/arsynth), an experiment that helps everyone to engage and play with five famous synthesizers (from the collection of the Swiss Museum for Electronic Music Instruments) through augmented reality (Android) or in 3D (Android, iOS, desktop): create interactive loops, compose patterns and interact with features inspired by these machines.

  • Akai S900

    Rotate and zoom in on 22 legendary synthesizers, which have been scanned in 3D, from the collection of the Swiss Museum for Electronic Music Instruments.

  • Songs created by AI

    Twelve songs created by AI: How musicians are continuing to embrace new technologies in music production

Electronic music brings people together from all walks of life and from all over the world. Its community has always been one of creativity and shared experiences. And while it may take a while until club doors open again, fans and musicians keep connected through new online forums and formats.


We hope that Music, Makers & Machines will let you explore and appreciate the stories of electronic music and celebrate the creativity of its makers. Find the project on the Google Arts & Culture app for iOS and Android and at g.co/musicmakersmachines .

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Dive into Diwali at home with Google Arts & Culture

Every autumn, millions of people around the world come together for firework displays, feasts, prayer, and festivities in celebration of Diwali—the festival of lights. Millions of clay lamps illuminate homes and public spaces. Floors are covered with cheerful rangolis to bring good luck. With the food, family and festivities, Diwali is all about the experience of coming together, and the vibrant spectacle of color and light, but the global pandemic changes how we celebrate this year. Google Arts & Culture has created a virtual Diwali experience that everyone can be a part of, wherever you are in the world.

Diwali AR GIF

Festive lights in Augmented Reality

To recreate some festival fervor, try out a new Augmented Reality experience. Decorate your space virtually with diyas (lamps), detonate virtual anar (firecrackers), for some explosive, playful fun, and to learn more about these important cultural traditions.
Celebrate Diwali with Google Arts & Culture
10:25

Dive into Diwali from home

Google Arts & Culture has partnered with over 20 cultural heritage organisations to launch Diwali @ Home. Striking images and immersive online stories weave a journey through the festival of lights, its legends and folklore, and dive into the sights, sounds and smells of an iconic festival.
  • Month of Kartika.jpeg

    Month of Kartika from the collection of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya

  • Dokra Diya.jpeg

    Dokra Diya from the collection of Banglanatak

  • Radha Krishma Fireworks.jpeg

    Radha and Krishna Watching Fireworks in the Sky from the collection of National Museum, New Delhi

The color, food, festivities and nostalgia of Diwali are shared through new online exhibitions from partner institutions including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Indian Museum, National Museum and many more.

Interactive art coloring book for family fun

There’s also plenty of hands-on fun for families with interactive coloring books—in artworks inspired by traditional Indian paintings in a specially developed coloring book! Find it with Google Search, simply by searching for “Diwali” on your phone.


Lady Lighting a Lamp from the collection of Salar Jung Museum, and a page from the interactive Diwali art coloring book

Lady Lighting a Lamp from the collection of Salar Jung Museum, and a page from the interactive Diwali art coloring book

Finally, watch a video conversation between Amish Tripathi, author and Director of The Nehru Centre, and art historian broadcaster and former museum director Neil MacGregor on Diwali and why it’s particularly special this year.

So, with the help of a little Google magic, we hope our Diwali @ Home experience adds to your festive cheer as you celebrate in your own way this year, on the Google Arts & Culture app foriOS andAndroid.

India’s mini-masterpieces brought to life with AI and AR

Miniature paintings are among the most beautiful, most technically-advanced and most sophisticated art forms in Indian culture. Though compact (about the same size as a small book), they typically tackle profound themes such as love, power and faith. Using technologies like machine learning, augmented reality and high-definition robotic cameras, Google Arts & Culture has partnered with the National Museum in New Delhi to showcase these special works of art in a magical new way.

Virtually wander the halls of a pocket gallery

Inspired by the domes and doorways that punctuate Indian homes and public spaces, this is the first AR-powered art gallery designed with traditional Indian architecture. Using your smartphone, you can open up a life-size virtual space, walk around at your leisure and zoom into your favorite pieces—you have this beautiful museum to yourself!

Domes and doorways

The first AR-powered art gallery inspired by the domes and doorways of India.

Art meets AI, with Magnify Miniatures

Miniatures are rich in detailed representations of topics that have shaped Indian culture. Thanks to machine learning, you can now discover these attributes across a collection of miniature paintings. Select from tags like ‘face’, ‘animal’, or even ‘moustache’, and see where these features occur!

Magnify miniatures

Take a closer look with immersive in-painting tours 

Art Camera, our ultra-high-resolution robotic camera, was deployed to produce the most vivid images of masterpieces ever seen. Using these images, we’ve created over 75 in-painting tours to help you stop and appreciate details like wisps of smoke from firecrackers, or see the finesse and variety of every person’s attire in this royal procession—flourishes that you wouldn’t be able to see well with the naked eye.

Art camera

You can zoom in to see the wisps of smoke in this miniature titled "Lady Holding a Sparkler"

Explore thousands of rich stories and images 

The virtual collection includes 1,200 high resolution images from 25 collections all around the world and more than 75 stories, depicting scenes that include legendary marriage processions, the joy of being among nature, or epic battles. Curious minds, students and families will find playful and educational ways to enjoy the world of Indian miniatures, such as an interactive coloring book. 

We’re glad that through the power of technology, people all over the world can engage with these miniature masterpieces like never before.


Discover India through its crafts

Crafts are an essential part of India’s rural economy and also play an important role in India’s history and communities across the country today. Expanding our partnership with India’s Ministry of Tourism, we’re launching “Crafted in India” on Google Arts & Culture, so more people from around the world can discover the beauty and heritage of crafts from all 29 states of India. We spoke to Jaya Jaitly, the President of our partner institution Dastkari Haat Samiti, who traveled around the country for two years to document and preserve the items in the exhibition.

Tell us a bit more about yourself and your work in India.
I spent some years of my childhood in Japan, where I became a lover of art, crafts and textiles. I also have a passion for social activism, so it was a natural fit to explore the traditions of my home country India through these guiding principles—showcasing not just the crafts themselves, but how they lift up the economic and social status of the craft-makers. By documenting their work I strive to promote their culture and show how their designs and skills suit a contemporary and ever-changing world.

Why a project about crafts from India?
I was very excited when we got an opportunity to use the platform that Google Arts & Culture has created to show the world our craft creators. They have amazing skills, great resilience and work closely with their communities and environment. There is so much to discover, like how you can craft paper from the most unexpected materials, like pineapple fibres, old currency, or animal dung.

What aspect of Indian crafts did you capture and discover?
I hope we have captured the fantastic diversity of India’s crafts. Our stories show many different lifestyles, languages, communities, identities, styles of dress and traditions that India has nurtured over centuries. I am especially proud of the stories in the exhibition that show the strong role of women.

  • Miniature Metal Craft Miniature metallic animals and insects, made by Rajasthan's Gadiya Lohar community.jpg

    Metal forms of animals and insects are  made by Rajasthan's Gadiya Lohar community. They believe their ancestors used to make weapons for the royalty in 16th Century.

  • Kauna Grass Craft - Women selling Kauna Basket at Ima Market.jpg

    Kauna Grass Craft at Ima Market . Women control the marketing of crafts and agricultural produce in most of the north-eastern states of India.

  • Bell Metal Casting - Crucible with molten metal inside.jpg

    Bell Metal Casting is first crafted by hand onto wax, which is covered by clay and the wax melted out to create a mould. Molten metal, around 1100 degrees celcius, is poured into that clay mold.

  • Bagh Weaving and Printing.jpg

    In Bagh weaving and printing, the black color is made by fermenting iron with jaggery. Once prints are dry, it is washed in the river and beaten to remove excess color.

  • Mata ni Pachedi- A screen printed Mata ni Pachedi textile.jpg

    Mata ni Pachedi. The ‘Mata’, or the Mother Goddess shrine cloth, is most in demand during Navratri, the festival spanning nine days when incarnations of Goddess.

  • Channapatna Toys - Traditionally known as Keel Kudure.jpg

    Channapatna Toys. Traditionally known as Keel Kudure, meaning horse on false legs, is inspired from a folk dance of Karnataka.

  • Zari Zardozi.jpg

    Zari Zardozi is a style of metallic thread embroidery done with a hooked awl kind of needle called Aari. Many different kinds of needles are used depending on the design.

Working on the project, is there anything in particular that surprised you?
Living in urban India and familiar with many kinds of lifestyles all over the world, I was fascinated to discover how many of our craftspeople hold on to old practices and techniques despite the laborious processes involved. Their versatility in adapting to new materials, audiences and customers showed their sense of pride in their heritage.

How do crafts define the people and the culture of India? What can you learn about India through its crafts?
India is now prominent on all sorts of platforms across the world. And craft, in all its varieties, is one of the strongest crucibles of India’s culture. It can be at the center of developing our rural economy, sustaining our planet and promoting our diverse people and livelihoods. I also hope it will encourage people who enjoy the exhibition to come to India and engage with it more closely—this is just a small peek at the vast treasure chest on offer.

Start the Lunar New Year with Google Arts & Culture

Today marks the start of the Lunar New Year—we’ve entered the Year of the Rooster.

lunar-new-year-2017-5686481707335680-hp2x.jpg

Across Asia and around the world, families are coming together, houses and neighborhoods are being dressed up in red and traditional lanterns are being hung. If you're still wondering about what the fireworks are all about, Google Arts & Culture is here to help you learn more about this centuries-old tradition.

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Google Arts & Culture

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Google Arts & Culture

Google Arts & Culture teamed up with 12 museums from Beijing to Washington to create a new online exhibition, so everyone can discover the craftsmanship and arts that make this holiday so colorful. Follow the zodiac animals across 1,000 years of art history, learn about the art of the New Year prints with which people decorate their homes, or find out how to give and accept a traditional red envelope.

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The exhibition is available for everyone online and through the Google Arts & Culture mobile app on iOS and Android. And if you follow us on Instagram, you can join the celebrations and learn how to create lanterns or fold a pretty paper rooster to celebrate Lunar New Year.

May the Year of the Rooster be a great one for you all!

Start the Lunar New Year with Google Arts & Culture

Today marks the start of the Lunar New Year—we’ve entered the Year of the Rooster.

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Across Asia and around the world, families are coming together, houses and neighborhoods are being dressed up in red and traditional lanterns are being hung. If you're still wondering about what the fireworks are all about, Google Arts & Culture is here to help you learn more about this centuries-old tradition.

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Google Arts & Culture

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Google Arts & Culture

Google Arts & Culture teamed up with 12 museums from Beijing to Washington to create a new online exhibition, so everyone can discover the craftsmanship and arts that make this holiday so colorful. Follow the zodiac animals across 1,000 years of art history, learn about the art of the New Year prints with which people decorate their homes, or find out how to give and accept a traditional red envelope.

SNAP-33-800px.gif

The exhibition is available for everyone online and through the Google Arts & Culture mobile app on iOS and Android. And if you follow us on Instagram, you can join the celebrations and learn how to create lanterns or fold a pretty paper rooster to celebrate Lunar New Year.

May the Year of the Rooster be a great one for you all!

The opening concert of the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg live and in 360°

To mark Wednesday's opening of the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie concert hall, Google Arts & Culture will bring viewers a celebratory performance streamed on YouTube starting at 6:30 pm CET.  Under the direction of Thomas Hengelbrock, the NDR Elbphilharmonie orchestra will perform with top-class soloists  Philippe Jaroussky and Camilla Tilling.

In addition to the livestream the use of 360° cameras will bring the concert to life for anyone who was not able to get their hands on one of the much-sought-after tickets to the opening performance. These specialized cameras allow each and every viewer to customise their own perspective within the YouTube window in their browser. You can watch this on YouTube,  and for a fully immersive experience, you can put on a Google Cardboard headset too. We’re inviting anyone in Hamburg to grab a cardboard free of charge at the visitor center of the Elbphilharmonie!

For a first glimpse of the Elbphilharmonie in 360 check out this video to see the Techno Marching Band “Meute“ , talented parkour-runners and the young German string player ensemble “ensemble reflektor“ explore the concert hall.

In November the Elbphilharmonie welcomed viewers inside for the first time, offering a peek into the then-unopened concert hall and the Plaza’s panoramic view over the Hamburg harbour on Google Street View. Google Arts & Culture features a rich collection of photos, videos and historic documents including corresponding online exhibitions that offer a unique look into the history and architecture of Hamburg’s newest landmark. The collection has been updated for opening day at g.co/elbphilharmonie or via the mobile app of Google Arts & Culture available to download on iOS and Android.

Elbphilharmonie behind the scenes
Capture of 360° material behind the scenes of Elbphilharmonie

The online exhibition “Backstage at the Elbphilharmonie “ invites visitors into the rehearsal room of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra whilst another demonstrates the architectural beauty of the building through the lense of Iwan Baan. It was very important to us that we not only make the Elbphilharmonie center stage, but also its people. Elbphilharmonie Ensemble in Residence accompanies the “Ensemble Resonanz” on the way from its first artistic rehearsal the the Elbphilharmonie-Kaispeicher to its move into the smaller hall of the concert house.

Elbphilharmonie

We wish our partner the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg a hearty congratulations on opening day and a successful start into the musical year of 2017. And to viewers everywhere: we hope you enjoy watching the YouTube livestream of the opening concert tonight and that you explore the many stories behind Hamburg’s new landmark on Google Arts & Culture.

The opening concert of the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg live and in 360°

To mark Wednesday's opening of the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie concert hall, Google Arts & Culture will bring viewers a celebratory performance streamed on YouTube starting at 6:30 pm CET.  Under the direction of Thomas Hengelbrock, the NDR Elbphilharmonie orchestra will perform with top-class soloists  Philippe Jaroussky and Camilla Tilling.

In addition to the livestream the use of 360° cameras will bring the concert to life for anyone who was not able to get their hands on one of the much-sought-after tickets to the opening performance. These specialized cameras allow each and every viewer to customise their own perspective within the YouTube window in their browser. You can watch this on YouTube,  and for a fully immersive experience, you can put on a Google Cardboard headset too. We’re inviting anyone in Hamburg to grab a cardboard free of charge at the visitor center of the Elbphilharmonie!

For a first glimpse of the Elbphilharmonie in 360 check out this video to see the Techno Marching Band “Meute“ , talented parkour-runners and the young German string player ensemble “ensemble reflektor“ explore the concert hall.

In November the Elbphilharmonie welcomed viewers inside for the first time, offering a peek into the then-unopened concert hall and the Plaza’s panoramic view over the Hamburg harbour on Google Street View. Google Arts & Culture features a rich collection of photos, videos and historic documents including corresponding online exhibitions that offer a unique look into the history and architecture of Hamburg’s newest landmark. The collection has been updated for opening day at g.co/elbphilharmonie or via the mobile app of Google Arts & Culture available to download on iOS and Android.

Elbphilharmonie behind the scenes
Capture of 360° material behind the scenes of Elbphilharmonie

The online exhibition “Backstage at the Elbphilharmonie “ invites visitors into the rehearsal room of the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra whilst another demonstrates the architectural beauty of the building through the lense of Iwan Baan. It was very important to us that we not only make the Elbphilharmonie center stage, but also its people. Elbphilharmonie Ensemble in Residence accompanies the “Ensemble Resonanz” on the way from its first artistic rehearsal the the Elbphilharmonie-Kaispeicher to its move into the smaller hall of the concert house.

Elbphilharmonie

We wish our partner the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg a hearty congratulations on opening day and a successful start into the musical year of 2017. And to viewers everywhere: we hope you enjoy watching the YouTube livestream of the opening concert tonight and that you explore the many stories behind Hamburg’s new landmark on Google Arts & Culture.