Rooftop – Where India Inspires Creativity

Styles of Floor Art Painting in India

Floor art paintings have existed since the beginning of time, and not undergone much change since. Different cultures and civilizations are centred around these paintings, although they go by several names. These designs have both religious and spiritual meanings attached to them. 

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Jain Manuscript Painting: A Glimpse At The Jain Kalpasutra Manuscripts

Once upon a time, Gods, demons, and spirits were said to have roamed the wild and breathtaking expanse of the Indian subcontinent. Tales of this unknown, fantastical existence differ in each group, each community, and each culture of humanity. In this very land were born the three most ancient religions still in practice: Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

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Amrita Sher-Gil and Women

On this International Women’s Day, whose story could be more fitting than that of Amrita Sher-Gil, the bold spirit of the 20th century whose art left an indelible mark on both India and the West? Growing up between Hungary, India, and France, Sher-Gil’s canvas shows her commitment to portraying the essence of women, whether Indian or European.

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Babur meeting with Sultan Ali Mirza at the Kohik River, from a Babur-nama (Memoirs of Babur) c. 1590. Image credit: Cleveland Museum of Art

Tracing the Evolution of Indo-Persian Art

Persia and India have a unique cultural link that is centuries old. Persia had a huge influence on Indian languages, culture, food and even art! In this fast-paced world, we sometimes forget what a unique melting pot of cultural antiquity our country is. Just as today’s quaint Irani cafes sell fragrant Irani ‘chai’, the Miniature paintings of the Mughal era represent a unique style of Indo-Persian art that was a synthesis of two artistic and cultural traditions.

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The Lavanyavati Manuscripts of Orissa

Long before paper made its way to southern India, artists were using engraving techniques to create art on palm leaves. These palm leaf manuscripts of the past tell many local stories in innovative ways. Manuscript making was quite popular in Odisha, which is where the ‘Romance of Chandrabhanu and Lavanyavati’ originates from.

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The Laur-Chanda Paintings: A Tale of Sufi Romance

Certain romances are timeless: they transcend the boundaries of time, fate, and circumstance. In this blog, we explore yet another tale of forbidden love. As Laur and Chanda get entangled in a web of societal norms and personal desires, will they be able to persevere and triumph against all odds?

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The Diverse Interpretations of the Panchasiriya Motif in Warli Painting

Everyone knows what Warli art looks like, but few know the exact significance of its motifs. To truly ‘know’ Warli art, we must indulge in the stories of the Warli community. What we consider merely artistic symbols or motifs represent generations of cultural beliefs and spiritual practices that make up the Warli identity. As we explore the Panchasiriya motif, let us also gain a deeper understanding of Warli art itself.

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