5 Incredible Facts About Indian Art We Bet You Didn’t Know
The roots of traditional Indian art are set deep into our cultural identity and ethnic backgrounds.
One of the most interesting facts about Indian art and culture is that it has been from generation to generation.
The present contemporary art and culture is greatly influenced by modernisation and the advent of technology. From the humble origins of the Madhubani paintings to digital art we have certainly come a long way.
In this blog, we have presented a set of trivias and facts about the Indian art style that we bet you didn’t know about.
5 interesting trivias about the Indian art style
As indeginous and magnificent the Indian art form is, so is its history and culture. The art critics and historians have treasured some of the most amazing facts about the Indian art style that the general public is not aware of.
Take a look at some of the lesser known facts about the Indian art form:
The painting that saved deforestation
Madhubani is a traditional art form that originated from a small rural location in Bihar. This art form is famous for the graphical illustrations of the Hindu deities in their human forms.
So how did the Madhubani painting save deforestation? Back in 2012, a folk of talented cultural artists from Bihar took the initiative to carve Madhubani paintings on the barks of trees so that it could refrain people from chopping down the trees.
From paintings to social issues
Art is an exemplary form of expression, especially concerning topics like HIV, climate change, unemployment and other social issues.
The traditional Indian art form of Pattachitra that originated in Odisha, is the cumulation of local artists from all over the state to highlight these social issues. These local artisans are referred to as Chitrakaars.
For depicting folklores incorporated with social issues, Pattachitra is an art form that has always been able to capture the nuances of Indian society.
Coffee mugs back from 2500 BC
Warli art which is a contemporary art style is currently in limelight for the use of pop of colours and depiction of references from the current trends.
This art form is used for creating illustrations on lanterns, coffee mugs, jars and other items that are commonly used. But, did you know that the Warli art form is as old as 2500 BC?
It definitely gives us a sense of pride and respect that the tribal art forms are being celebrated in current times in the form of contemporary artworks.
Natural pigmentation and colours from 3500 years back
God’s own country Kerala, the land of enriching culture and diversity, celebrates art and life with dignity and pride.
Such is the case with the Kerala murals that were designed and articulated using natural colours and pigmentation. Some of these paintings are as old as 3500 years.
When examined by the art historians it was found that the colours used in these paintings were in fact extracted from 100% natural fruit pulp.
These paintings are known for depicting instances and scenes from Hindu mythology portraying harmonious forms of shading and layering.
British museum of Indian art and culture
Since the advent of the East India Company, the cultural and ethnic forefront of our country has shifted and changed per the circumstances.
During and even after the colonial rule, the Britishers took as many symbolic art and cultural tokens from the country as they could. Such is the case with the South Indian paintings.
The 17th century South Indian paintings are displayed as testimonials in the British Museum. The display exhibits more than 1000 diverse paintings from different themes and techniques taught in traditional Indian art.
Those were some of the incredible and lesser-known facts about the Indian art style. One of the greatest facts that we often fail to appreciate about the Indian art form is that it doesn’t refrain from discussing the tabboos of the society.
Be it topics of gender inequality, misogyny or disoriented social constructs, the traditional Indian art form has never failed to portray the facts and make us face the harsh truths of life.
Final Thoughts
With digitisation and the advent of fast-paced technology, there are many who believe that the Indian art style is slowly turning into heaps and stacks of a historical artefacts that no one wants to unravel.
But that is certainly not the case. Traditional Indian art has made a huge impact on not only shaping our society but has also acquainted us with the flaws in the social constructs of our society.
Celebrating and appreciating art should be the norm of our social culture. Talking about it and sharing our opinions will help cultivate a sense of belonging in this long-lost society.
