Artist Shelly Jyoti’s latest exhibition, Indigo: The Blue Gold II, at Bikaner House in New Delhi explores the historical journey of indigo, connecting textile traditions with migration, global trade and the exploitation of labour.

Drawing on more than 18 years of research and artistic practice, the exhibition uses khadi textiles and block printing to examine indigo’s role in India’s history, from the struggles of farmers in eastern India to the movement of the dye across international trade routes.

The exhibition features Jyoti’s latest series, Indigo: Migration Through Time, which focuses on the experiences of displaced communities and indentured labourers. Divided into three sections—Faceless Journeys, Displaced Ecologies and Unresolved Geographies—the collection uses human figures, fish and other motifs to represent displacement, collective movement and the emotional connections people maintain with their homelands.

The exhibition also highlights the importance of traditional textile craftsmanship through a reinterpretation of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, featuring artisans such as block printers, dyers and embroiderers. Jyoti’s longstanding collaboration with Ajrakh artisans in Kutch, Gujarat, further reflects her commitment to preserving traditional printing techniques and craft knowledge.

Through indigo, khadi and textile art, the exhibition connects historical narratives with contemporary questions about migration, labour, cultural identity and sustainability, demonstrating how traditional crafts can communicate stories across generations.