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With 28 states and 8 union territories having their own regional culture and history, India is rightly a nation of cultural and social diversity. There are different cuisines, dresses, festivals and even folk art forms as well. These art forms are depictions of various stories, cultural and social issues passed down from generations and are rich in history. The paintings are vivid and full of colours dominated by mythological depictions.
Although with a change in trends, these art forms had been declining but due to recent interests and developments people have developed an interest in exploring the beautiful culture and skills. These art forms not only hold traditional values but also have importance in the study of history. Apart from this, these arts are extremely beautiful and would work as great decorations for your home. They are fun to draw and each one has its own unique style.
Here we have some different traditional art forms from different parts of India each having its unique essence.
1. Gond Painting
Originating from the Gondi tribe in Madhya Pradesh, these paintings depict the connectivity of nature and human belongingness with nature. These paintings are mainly depictions of flora and fauna with vivid and bold colours. These paintings hold important social values and show the interdependence of humans and the surrounding environment.
All colours used are natural and come from charcoal, cow dung, leaves and coloured soil. The paintings are mainly drawn utilizing dots and lines. Nowadays, acrylic colours are being used for this art form. Jangarh Singh Shyam revived the art for the world in the 1960s and is considered as the most famous Gond artist.
2. Madhubani Painting
This art form is still recognized for its beautiful depictions and use in different mediums. The art form originated in the Mithila region of Bihar and the first paintings were made by the native people of the region. Since Mithila is mythologically considered as the birth ground of Sita, many early paintings are depictions of the wedding of Ram and Sitaji. Most themes revolve around Hindu mythology and courtroom scenes as well.
The designs are characterized by eye-catching geometrical patterns and symbolic images. The paintings are made with beautiful and vibrant colours. One fascinating feature of the Madhubani style of painting is that no spades are left on the frame uncoloured.
3. Phad Painting
Emanating from Rajasthan, Phad is an artform usually depicting narratives and are hence rich in history as well as culture. It is a scroll painting art form dating back to thousands of years. Each story has its own cultural significance and stands out for its unique history and origin The Phad scrolls display battlefield images, adventure tales, mythical romances, and Indian princely states richness.
The paintings are created on handwoven coarse cotton cloth, soaked, and stiffened to give it a sheen look. One interesting aspect is that these paintings are completely natural in sense of the medium and paints making use of natural fibres, flowers, plants and herbs.
4. Kalamkari Painting
This traditional art form is dated 3000 years back in history. Kalamkari is a type of cotton textile, hand-painted or block-printed, developed in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states of Isfahan and India. It is traditionally used to make narratives and scrolls. It majorly involves earthy colours like indigo, green, rust, black and mustard.
The art form also has a close connection with Persian motifs. Motifs drawn in Kalamkari span from flowers, peacocks, paisleys to Hindu epics such as Mahabharata and Ramayana. Nowadays, Kalamkari sarees are primarily created with this art.
5. Warli Painting
This art form hails from Thane and Nasik areas of Maharashtra and dates back ages. These paintings depict the social rituals and nature of the tribe that include festivals, harvests, weddings and fertility. The art form was generally used to paint on walls of the house primarily by the tribal women.
Use of monochromatic and linear hues brings upon a sharp resemblance with the cave paintings. Due to their beautiful appearance and simplicity, the Warli Art has gained immense popularity and is painted on home furnishings, décor, and murals.
6. Tanjore Painting
The paintings pertaining to the Tanjore style of art were first painted under the regime of the Chola Kingdom. These paintings emerged from the Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu, hence also called as Thanjavur paintings. It is a classical South Indian painting style characterized by rich and vivid colours. These paintings are distinguished by clear classic composition, gleaming gold foils overlaid on detailed gesso work and inlay of glass beads or gems.
The themes generally revolve around Hindu Gods, Goddesses and saints. Moreover, the main subject is always positioned at the centre of the depiction. They are panel paintings and are usually done on wooden planks and have become souvenirs for festive occasions as colourful pieces to decorate walls.
Conclusion
All these art forms are from different parts of India and have their own social and cultural importance especially for their tribe. As beautiful as they are, popularizing traditional art forms is much needed so as to empower the local tribes and artisans both economically and socially. Also, you can learn these art forms and add it in your palette of art techniques that would definitely help you to get an edge over other participants in the field of creativity.
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Written By- Bhanu Jain
Edited By - Neha Kundu
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