A distinct school of painting flourished and evolved in the plateau region of southern India, somewhere beyond the Vindhya mountain range, under several Sultans of the Deccan region in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This unique synthesis of art and cultural elements culminated in the creation of the unique style of Deccan Miniature painting.
Folk art holds a unique place in the world of art. Its transformative power can shape artistic narratives and completely change the course of an artist’s life. While fine art has its merits, it is not hard to see why people often find folk art to be more reflective of human emotion and more authentic to the artists’s lived experiences.
Rajasthan has been the source of many interesting artistic traditions. Be it Phad, Arayash fresco making or Miniature painting, the Home of the Kings has been the birthplace of many different styles and techniques. From this regal region comes another folk art tradition that is not very well known. The technique of building and painting portable shrines or prayer boxes is known as Kavad art.
Cheriyal, a quaint village in Telangana, is not just known for its historical significance but also for a unique artistic tradition: Cheriyal Mask and Doll-Making.
As a child, playing with shadows and creating various animal and bird shapes is a universal experience. There is something about shadow art that makes it captivating—perhaps the fact that we are able to see complex beings and objects in simple shapes?
Amidst laughter and festivities, bright lights and vivid hues, a child sits next to their mother and takes in the mesmerising process of creating a Rangoli floor painting. The mother, an expert, deftly creates patterns of coloured powder by manipulating it between her forefinger and thumb. Seldom do men gather around a rangoli; the process is traditionally reserved for the wives and daughters of the Hindu household.
Floor art and mathematics: what’s the connection? While many folk art forms make use of geometrical patterns and motifs, the kolam takes it a step further. Read on to discover the practical applications of this ancient decorative art form.
As society changes, so do its values and perceptions of art. Art is a reflection of the socio-political state of a region and the mentality of its people. During war, we seek peace, and during boredom, we seek excitement. Art trends change like the tides, and what is popular today may be infamous tomorrow. Some art, however, can be timeless; it ceases to be a fad and becomes a movement.
The word ‘patta’ means cloth, and pattachitra means ‘pictures on cloth’. Pattachitra is practised in Orissa and West Bengal. However, there are marked differences between the two. The Pattachitra of Bengal has a distinct and easily recognisable style that has continued to captivate the hearts of art lovers. Let’s take a look at Bengal Pattachitra and the art of Patua Scroll painting.
Indian scroll art forms often evolved to support the act of verbal storytelling. Cheriyal painting is one such art form that stands out from the colourful landscape of Indian art due to its characteristic style and motifs.
