Anant Art

“A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;” (King James Version, Ecclesiastes 3:2)

The Maring people possess a divine bestowment of skills and knowledge in the craft of weaving; particularly cane, bamboo, and rattan. Merci has inherited this artistry from his father and the elders around him. This curiosity extends to the basket weaving practices of different Naga communities across all places they inhabit. Woven objects and techniques have travelled between villages through trade, but Merci is interested in how certain forms and methods tied to specific rituals and functions remain specific to particular communities. The title of the series elicits Merci’s contemporary tribal milieu, often misunderstood as corrupted by an external faith — the reality being profoundly more textured. 
This series is an attempt by Merci to annotate these practices through meticulous research to serve as demonstrations for those who might inherit after him. The drawings are placed following a human life cycle—it begins with a basket made for a newborn to a stretcher for the dead —and in between are objects necessary for every rite of passage.

Using ink, Merci creates a journey of the basket as a carrier of time, emotion, people, and food.

Thamshangpha ‘Merci’ Maku’s solo, PHANTASMS, is on view at Anant Art until 31 October 2026.