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Avani Varia

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Life to me is an exhilarating journey of ongoing evolution…

Avani aspires to initiate and manage collaborative projects (National and International) with education, research, design and tourism to safeguard Heritage and Arts apace with sustainable income generation. To work for international projects that represent India to the world via Arts, Design & Culture would be an ideal inspirational situation for Avani.

Hailing from the Varia community traditional potters, in the state of Gujarat in India, is where she gets sense of aesthetics and love for the arts and crafts. Avani Varia admires the great culture of her home country and its rich legacy of arts and crafts. She has lived a life without electricity or water supply at home; where living was dependent on natural resources and daily routine would circulate around the movements of the sun. From that humble upbringing she has picked up values of living with upcycling, reuse, recycle and the handskills of crafts and design from her mother and father which demonstrates in her personal lifestyle and works as well.

With wide range of experience over 2 decades now (in 2020) Avani Varia gives freelance consultation to global clientele and has her own independent inititatives.

She was formally educated in India in numerous aspects of design and teaching, and subsequently received her MA in Arts and Heritage Management from London. Her experience includes of teaching and managing art, craft and design projects. She has been working at various capacities since 1996; researcher and documentation personal, multidimensional designer, brand manager, teacher and lecturer, publicity strategist, manager, merchandiser, facilitator, curator, mentor, an artist and a systems person. A detailed updated professional journey of Avani at LinkedIn.

She believes in life long learning and non-formal education. Fondly known as an Eternalnomad, she loves to travel and meet people of different cultures and background. From the day she started travelling on her own she is curious to learn handskills (traditional and contemporary) which she is sure to continue till her last day on this earth. Avani is an artist in her own right, checkout her Art explorations.

In MEDIA

Publications & International Papers

August 2021

“SPIN OFF” Magazine by Long Thread Media, Fort Collins, CO, 80524
“Spinning Arts, Education, and Economy in India”

March 2015

“Smart People” Magazine
“what is needed for Indian women to reach international platform”

June 2015

“Smart People” Magazine
“Reviving Heritage Spaces in Gujarati Home”
Think Global Be Local – પણીયારુ- વિસરાતી જતી વારસાગત ગુજરાતી ઘરની જગ્યા

1 Oct 2015, Page 120,122

Feelings Magazine

સમાજમા સ્ત્રીની ભૂમિકા ખૂબ જે મોટી છે, અને સાઇલેંટ છે. આપણા ભાગમા આવેલ દરેક જવાબદારી ખુશી ખુશી નીભાવવી. – અવની

Dec 1, 2015  

‘Parampara’ (Traditional Paniyary, a sacred water space) – a book on India’s climate friendly and sustainable practices. Prime Minister Narendra Modi releasing ‘Parampara’ at the Paris conference. Publication was exclusively part of the International Climate Change Conference Paris in 2015.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/cop-21-live-updates/article7933275.ece

12th – 13th May, 2011

Pairings: Conversations, Collaborations, Materials – International Conference – Avani Varia presented for two as below:

FIRST:
The Savarkundla Project and Beyond – a slide-illustrated presentation with Prof. Cindy Gould of IOWA State University
(page 66 to 69)

SECOND:
An audio-visual montage and poster on VARIA Community potters of India.

Jan 1, 2014 

‘The Trellis’, a publication by National Institute of Design, The Savarkundala project and beyond – a collaborative article

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