Australia and India’s ancient crafts come together at the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy       

Australian First Nations and Indian tribal traditions have come together in a compelling exploration of heritage, identity and craft as part of the new exhibition, “the Guardians Across Mountain and Sea,” on show in Delhi.  

Currently on display at the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy, the exhibition presents a dialogue between contemporary First Nations fibre art and traditional Indian mountain and tribal practices. Opened by High Commissioner Philip Green on 10 March, the exhibition features hand-woven sculptural works by Australian First Nations artist Grace Lillian Lee. Her evocative installation “Winds of Guardians” includes four large-scale structural forms and the ceremonial Dreamweaver Mask, drawing on the rich weaving traditions of the Torres Strait Islands.

These works are presented alongside pieces from the museum’s collection representing India’s mountain and tribal cultures including woven sculptures from the North-Eastern state of Tripura and ceremonial masks from Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh. Through fibre, weaving and adornment, ‘the Guardians Across Mountain and Sea’ highlights the deep cultural knowledge, symbolism and storytelling embedded in craft traditions across both cultures. The exhibition will be on display until 27 March at the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy.

(Australian exhibition, “the Guardians Across Mountain and Sea" on display at the National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy)

A taste of tomorrow: Australia and India dish out sustainable innovation      

At the intersection of tech and taste, the Australian High Commission hosted a high-level food networking event, “Plates with Purpose” on 12 March, to celebrate the growing Australia-India food partnership.  Timed to coincide with AAHAR 2026 -the International Food & Hospitality Fair, the evening also marked the official India launch of the Australian food-tech platform Saveful. Hosted by High Commissioner Philip Green, the night featured an exclusive conversation between two globally respected culinary heavyweights Australian Chef and Saveful Ambassador Matt Moran and Indian Chef Sanjeev Kapoor. The discussion explored how governments, chefs, technology and communities can work together and harness technology to build a more sustainable global food system.  But the real stars were the students from the Butterflies School of Culinary and Catering. These aspiring chefs didn't just watch from the sidelines; they helped curated the evening’s menu, trading techniques with their idols while proving that the future of food is as sustainable as it is delicious.

Guests also had the opportunity to experience the breadth and quality of Australian food and beverages, highlighting the versatility of Australian agricultural produce in Indian cuisine. The event was organised in partnership with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission and Fletcher International Group, one of Australia’s leading exporters of lamb and sheep meat.

(High Commissioner Philip Green in coversation with Australian Chef and Saveful Ambassador Matt Moran and Indian Chef Sanjeev Kapoor)