In the red earth landscapes of Purulia, West Bengal, the glow of evening often falls on something more than hills and sal trees—it shines on the painted faces of Chhau masks hung to dry outside artisan homes. For Ashish Sutradhar, this sight is not just a fragment of local culture; it is the story of his family, his craft, and his dream.
A Legacy of Chhau Mask Makers
Ashish comes from a long line of traditional mask makers. His grandfather shaped the first clay forms; his father refined the features and colors; and Ashish grew up watching these fierce, expressive faces emerge from humble layers of paper and clay. For the last 15 years, he has been actively involved in Chhau mask making, learning every step—from forming the base to building dramatic expressions with color and line.
Unlike many artisans who are forced to abandon their craft early, Ashish continued his education while staying rooted in this profession. Even as he prepares for West Bengal government service exams to secure a stable income, his heart remains firmly with mask making. His dream is clear: to be able to live as a full-time artisan without having to choose between passion and financial security.
The Tribal Veda Heritage Collaboration
At Tribal Veda Heritage, the vision is to ensure that artisans like Ashish do not have to treat their craft as a part-time pursuit. The goal is simple yet ambitious: a full year of dignified earning for every artisan, so they can sustain their families through their own creative legacy instead of constantly searching for outside jobs.
With this in mind, the team has worked closely with Ashish to reimagine traditional Chhau masks for contemporary homes and galleries. This collaboration has included:
- Hands-on workshops with national-level designers
- Online training sessions to explore new materials, finishes, and forms
- Extensive research into conservation practices, archival materials, and global art market expectations
These efforts have helped Ashish move from purely performance-based masks to archival-quality wall art pieces that can live in homes, hotels, and cultural spaces across the world.
Reinventing the Chhau Mask: Strength, Longevity, and Detail
raditional Chhau masks were always designed for stage performances. They needed to be dramatic and lightweight—but not necessarily long-lasting. Together with Tribal Veda Heritage, Ashish has helped push this art form into a new era by introducing:
- Handmade Cotton Paper: Replacing regular paper with cotton-based, archival sheets that offer superior strength and resistance to wear.
- Archival Adhesives: Conservation-grade glues that bond layers more securely and resist degradation over time.
- Herbal and Lightfast Colors: Pigments that are not only gentler and low in toxicity, but also far more stable, ensuring the masks retain their vibrancy for many years with minimal fading.
- Insect Resistance: Archival papers and finishes that make it harder for insects to infest or damage the masks, crucial for long-term collectors and institutions.
The result is a new generation of Chhau-inspired masks that hold their structure better than conventional pieces, age more gracefully, and can be gently cleaned—making them truly suitable as heirloom art.
Crafting Exclusive Designs for Modern Spaces
Working with Tribal Veda Heritage’s in-house and collaborating designers, Ashish now crafts masks that carry the soul of Purulia while speaking the visual language of modern interiors. The pieces are:
- Designed as limited editions, each individually numbered and authenticated
- Developed with exclusive forms and color palettes that are not mass-produced
- Tailored for spaces like boutique hotels, resorts, art galleries, curated homes, yoga studios, and cultural venues
Every mask represents a fusion of tradition and innovation: the inherited skill of a Sutradhar family and the design thinking of a contemporary studio.
Building Sustainable Futures for Artisans
For Ashish, every new collection is more than just an order—it is a step closer to his dream of living as a full-time artisan with financial stability. For Tribal Veda Heritage, each collaboration is a promise to create systems where artisans can earn throughout the year, not just during festival seasons.
By choosing these masks, buyers are not only investing in unique, archival-quality art; they are also supporting a living heritage and a real human story—a young artisan in Purulia who wants to carry his grandfather’s craft into the future with dignity.
Open for Collaborations and Bulk Orders
Tribal Veda Heritage welcomes:
- Interior designers and architects
- Hotels, homestays, and cultural retreats
- Galleries, museums, and institutions
- Corporate and gifting partners
With a dedicated design team and Ashish’s skilled hands, we can co-create pieces that are not only visually striking but also deeply rare, rooted in heritage, and tailored to your space or brand.
For collaborations and bulk enquiries, write to: hello@tribalvedaheritage.com
