The Museum Company:
Art with a Cause
Here is an arts and crafts emporium which showcases not only exquisite artifacts, both antique and contemporary, but is committed to help the artisans who craft them as well as the art buffs. A visit to this museum is not only eye filling, but soul satisfying as well
Mr. Syed Adeel Hassan with a look of empathy
One day, while I was exploring the area around the temple in Madurai a man came up to me invited me to see an art shop. Since I was in a very good mood, and being an art enthusiast, I said ok. This was the first time that I set foot inside The Museum Company in which I was immediately surrounded by spectacular pieces of bronze sculptures and wood craftsmanship as well as very welcoming people.
The person who runs this shop in Madurai, Mr. Syed Adeel Hassan, took me through the shop, passing amazing hand-carved pieces placed all along the walls and all the way up to the roof. They freely present a rooftop view of the inside of the Meenakshi Temple, into the parts where non-Hindus are not allowed to go. He continues to tell me one of the most important things about their business, which is that all their artifacts, crafts and jewellery are procured directly from the artisans themselves, rather than dealing with suppliers, so that both the artisan and the buyer get the best deal.
After spending a good couple of hours admiring the works in the shop, as I left I was sure that I would be back again and I knew with absolute certainty that it was well worth a story.
Timeless
The company started around 90 years ago in Chennai, while the shop in Madurai is about 60 to 70 years old; they also now have a branch in Cochin. “When the shop first started, there was only one floor, and when you go to some holy places you are not allowed to wear footwear, so before going into the temple people used to keep their chappals here,” Mr. Adeel tells me, who has been working in the shop for more than 15 years now. “When they return, they could see if they’d like to buy something or not.”
Since the shop first started, they have managed to collect some truly spectacular pieces of art. They receive the pieces either from families who have inherited them and need to sell them or from artists and craftsmen who make them in abundance. “The artists have no financial backing from the banks or other institutions, so they rely on shops like ours to give them what they deserve. It’s really hand to mouth for them,” Mr. Adeel states. Some of the pieces include a huge idol of Ganesha, carved out of a single block of wood, and then kept immersed under water for 6 months before being brought back into the hot sun in order to condition it.
Every time I go to this shop I still gasp in awe at the sheer skill and minute detail shown in the sculpture. Other incredible artifacts they have acquired are four Victorian rings from the 1800s: these rings are embedded with diamonds and with either a ruby or emerald gem in the middle. The rings were procured from families who gained them from past generations who lived during the British rule. This floor also contains various handcrafted sculptures from villages, as well as a section at the back dedicated to traditional cloth paintings.
The next floor is full of shawls and carpets. The different thing about this particular shop is that you can see the carpets being woven right there and then. Mr. Adeel enthusiastically talks about the different types of carpets and explains how they are woven. They have silk on silk carpets, which makes you feel as if you are walking on air and are designed with traditional tribal artwork, as well as more classical carpet designs. You can see for yourself Mr. Mohammed Ayoub, who has also been at the shop for around 15 years, tirelessly working hard on a new carpet. A lot of the carpets they have there are from other sources, but a good number of the silk carpets they weave themselves.
Mr. Mohammed Ayoub weaving his next masterpiece
“We have been doing this for around 25 years,” says Mr. Adeel, while laying out a number of different carpets in front of us.
I believe this shop can truly be a sight to behold for anyone, but those of us who are art lovers will surely be astounded by the uniqueness of this shop. Mr. Adeel has also exported pieces of work all across the world for enthusiasts. He says “I like to sell pieces to the real art lovers; it gives me great satisfaction knowing that the people fully appreciate the work and love it for what it is.”
You can’t spell “Heart”, without “Art”
As I said earlier, the real beauty of this shop is in its love and care for the people. “When you buy here, you’re helping the people,” Mr. Adeel says, because they get their work directly from the artist and so when a customer buys a piece from the shop, the artisan gets what he deserves. This is different to other shops which deal with corporate suppliers and middlemen to get their products, where commission has to be paid to the corporations and therefore the artists lose out. This is what makes this place so special, in that everyone benefits”. Mr. Adeel tells us “These people put their every nerve and sinew, blood and sweat to earn their bread and butter. Sometimes they get hurt and they don’t have special tools so sometimes their hands get burned.” It’s this kind of social conscience that should be present in all shops, rather than the heartless corporate greed that is too manifest in the world today.
As well as helping the artists themselves, the shop also employs about 60 to 70 people to work for them. These are people with no education or qualifications and they do simple tasks like finding people to come and see the shop, packing and delivering the products, as well as basic administration work. The employees are also offered full healthcare and pension. Mr. Adeel says and treats them like his family, “Every sale has a certain percentage that goes to the education of our employee’s children. Its better they work for us, rather than committing crimes and becoming drug addicts. We try and provide their children with good education, so we pay for their school fees and books.”
Personally I’ve always believed art can change the world, and this is one example of how it can. I hope this shop only grows and others adopt its philosophies. Mr. Adeel passionately tells us “You would not believe the poverty I have seen in India. It really makes me cry when I see a child go through garbage to find food. Even if you give them 10 rupees, they might not be able to build a castle, but at least they can survive another day.” This is the kind of compassion and empathy that should be prevalent in shops of all kinds, one that really understands the struggle of the people, heart of the people, and knows that it’s all about people, and not money.
