Maachis

In India, matchboxes were once more than everyday objects — they were canvases for art, politics, and storytelling. Sitting unnoticed in pockets and kitchen drawers, they carried bold designs, cultural icons, and fragments of a now forgotten history.

From mythological motifs to political satire, from local mascots to film stars – these miniature prints reflected who we were and what we believed in. But like many things analog, matchbox art too has slowly faded, replaced by mass production and digital minimalist design.

Maachis is an art revival project that is reimagining these tiny canvases as a modern medium of storytelling. We celebrate the intersection of design and culture and aim to give new life to India’s forgotten matchbox art in the form of bold, handcrafted pieces.