Dymkovo toy comes to life in the hands of a master artisan at "INNOPROM. India"
In the cultural zone of the National Centre RUSSIA stand at "INNOPROM. India", visitors to the international industrial trade fair can see how a white clay figurine is transformed into a colourful Dymkovo toy. The demonstration is led by Larisa Ushakova, a leading Dymkovo artisan and a member of the Union of Artists of Russia.
Especially for the workshops in New Delhi, Larisa Ushakova brought handmade figurines from the Kirov Region, along with a palette of paints. During the demonstration, the artisan showed how colour and simple elements gradually create the distinctive appearance of a Dymkovo toy.
"A Dymkovo toy is impossible to confuse with any other. It is distinguished by its snow-white background, bright contrasting palette and geometric ornamentation — circles, rings, checks, stripes and dots. At the same time, each figurine has its own composition and painting pattern. It is this combination of simple elements and vivid colours that creates the distinctive character of the Dymkovo toy, which we recognise at first glance. I want to show not only the finished toy, but also the process of how it comes to life. That is why visitors can see the most important stage — how a white clay figurine gradually comes alive through colour and ornamentation. I painted several different toys to show how a Dymkovo pattern is created, how the elements are combined and why the painting becomes unique for each figurine," said Larisa Ushakova.
The Dymkovo toy has become one of the symbols of the Kirov Region and the distinctive Vyatka area. The craft is more than four centuries old: it originated in the settlement of Dymkovo, and its history is linked to the tradition of the Vyatka spring festival known as Svistunya.
In the cultural zone of the National Centre RUSSIA stand, participants in "INNOPROM. India" can watch the artisan at work and ask questions about the traditions of the craft, the distinctive features of the painting and the use of colour combinations. The demonstration gives an international audience an opportunity to see how a centuries-old artistic tradition is preserved in the handmade work of contemporary artisans. Popular Indian blogger Vijay Nihalchandani shared his impressions:
"I was very pleased to discover the culture and art of Russia presented here at the fair. It is truly impressive. I especially liked the bags, the knitted items and the tableware — that impressed me most of all. Overall, the exposition is simply phenomenal!" the visitor noted.
Demonstration workshops are being held as part of the presentation of Russian folk arts and crafts at "INNOPROM. India". The National Centre RUSSIA cultural zone introduces visitors to the diversity of traditions from the country's regions and shows how the legacy of Russian artisans continues to live on in contemporary art and design.
The VII Russia-China Small and Medium Enterprises Business Forum "Path to Success" opened at the National Centre RUSSIA on 10 September.
When children grow up, parents enter a new stage of life — they have more time for themselves, but the need to stay close.
At "INNOPROM. India", the National Centre RUSSIA is introducing its Indian partners to Russia's traditional crafts, thereby strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
