Helping traditional arts survive...

As the Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA) hosts 10-day workshop, “Chithrankan”, artists from various parts of the country have descended at the fine arts college premises to work on some of the unique Indian traditional and tribal style of art and paintings.

To add to the usual creative and artistic activities on the CAVA campus in the area of paintings, sculpture and graphics, these artists will provide a new insight into the world of art here.

About 20 artists from Mysore, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the state and country are working on the art that is akin to a region.

From Mysore style painting to the Tanjore style, the inlay work of Mysore to the mural wall paintings of Chattisgarh and the traditional Hoysala style of paintings to Kalamkari art of Andhra Pradesh, all these forms of arts will come alive at the end of the 10 - day workshop next week.

Mural art

Atma Das Manikpuri, who is from Udaipur in Chattisgarh is showing his artistic skills on mural art, a wall painting work done using mud and colours.

“These works are famous across remote villages in Chattisgarh. The houses in hilly regions and tribal belts of the state are decorated with these mural works on their entrance and inside walls. Though, there are many families still working on such murals, the popularity is on the decline in state,” Manikpuri told Deccan Herald.

Manikpuri, who hails from family of artists is grandson of national award winning artist Sona Bai.

While, artists Vasu and Lakshman from Sri Kalahasthi of Andhra Pradesh, who work on Kalamkari say the art is more than five centuries old.

Kalamkari art

“The Kalamkari art is in good demand for wall hanging. There are only few artists left who are working on Kalamkari in Andhra Pradesh. We travel across exhibitions, art workshops and market our paintings. The Kalamkari works is tedious and it takes atleast two-days to come out with a single piece of work,” the duo tells.

Another artist, Pavan Kumar who is also from Andhra Pradesh is busy creating scroll painting using his dexterous hands.

Scroll paintings

The traditional scroll paintings represent the mythological characters and plots from the epics Ramayana and Mahabharatha.

Vishal Yadav and Ravikumar from Lucknow college of arts are working on their oil paintings.

Through his art work using pen, Ravikumar says he is trying to show the neglect of heritage and architecture in temples, historical buildings and structures.

Raghavendra Chitragaar from Belgaum is working on Hoysala sculptures in his paintings.

While, artists from Mysore, Meera Devi and M Girija are working on Mysore style paintings.

Gopal Betthawar, In-charge of the workshop and representative of South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur which has organised the workshop programme aims to introduce the traditional style and hold an interaction between artists and promote the native art forms.