News — craftspeople
Sacred Art of Thanjavur
A classical artform from southern India, Thanjavur painting – also known as Tanjore painting – is a celebration of the region’s rich artistic tradition, named after the town of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, India. Tanjore paintings are known for their extravagant depictions of deities using vibrant colours and gaudy embellishments, especially gold foil. Though the artform has undergone various changes over the years, it continues to be popular with lovers of art even today, and inspires many artists with its truly Indian style. Thanjavur or Tanjore paintings are characterised by rich and vivid colors, simple iconic composition, glittering gold foils overlaid...
Dhokra Lantern - A Picturesque Repesentation
Problems faced by Dhokra Artisans
This art form is widely appreciated and is wooing art lovers across the globe.
But they miss out on having exposure to the change in trends, marketing hence over the years have not been able to achieve a stable position.
They face numerous problems right from procuring raw materials to selling the finished product.
Process of Making Dhokra
Evolution of Dhokra in India
While Dhokra art originated in West Bengal, over time the tribes moved to Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa and Chhattisgarh as well as places like Kerala and Rajasthan. Hence, the art has now spread all over India. Most Dhokra artefacts are human or animal figurines. In fact, one of the earliest known lost wax casting artefacts is the legendary dancing girl of Mohenjo Daro. The tribes are also known for making measuring bowls, religious deities and lamps, though the themes are quite limited given the fact that the metalsmiths do not have much exposure beyond their own private lives. That said,...