Indian Folk art and Crafts

There is no doubt that India with its extensive geographical dimensions and a population with multi-cultural ethnicity presents almost infinite varieties of traditional arts and crafts. In an earlier article we had discussed the traditional artforms or paintings of India. (http://www.bcagalleries.com/notesboard.asp?CAT_ID=839&parent=66&cat_rep=&cat_name=Traditional%20Art%20of%20India&cat_birth=)  Now we present a two- part article on the different folk art and craft practiced across the length and breadth of the sub-continent. In the first part of the series we bring you the varieties of sculptural forms practiced in India.

The stone carvings on the temple walls of India and the intricate marble works on the Taj Mahal are something that are now common knowledge and grace almost every tourist brochure headlining India. Yet there is so much more that Indian sculpture has to offer, not just in terms of styles but also the material and techniques used.

Stone Sculpture

The Indian state of Tamil Nadu is known for its granite carving. In fact the Mamallapuram School of Sculpture is established here. The main theme of the sculptures remains religious and most draws inspiration from temple art, mainly the massive stone temples of Mahabalipuram. The method of procuring the stone is interesting as they do not blast the stone from the quarries as that would present cracks in it. Rather the stone is actually cleaved from the rock face using hammer and chisel. Great care is taken to ensure the quality of the stone with the best stone being one with no striations, spots or other discolouration. Needless to say the sheer weight of the granite makes it difficult to transport the sculptures. Most of them are still installed as idols in temples.

Moving from the south towards the east we come to the state of Orissa. The Konark Sun temple is an amazing example of the artistry of the sculptors with attention to intricate detailing of the Sun God’s chariot. The preferred stone here is sandstone and soapstone. The statuettes produced as decorative items detail traditional symbols like the Konark wheel, heavenly beauties in various moods like writing a letter (lekhika) and images of Gods and Goddesses.

In central and western India, marble carvings and sculptures are quite popular. The marble deposits are mainly found in the Western states of Gujarat and Rajasthan as well as parts of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Maharashtra. While pure, stainless marble is preferred, skilled sculptors incorporate the stains in the stone as part of the curves and movements of the design. Not just white – red, green, gray and black marble is also used to make exquisite sculptures as decorative as well as religious items.

Another artform associated with marble carving is that of marble inlay work. It was practiced abundantly in the time of the Mughals where semi-precious stiones were inlayed in architectural masterpieces like the Taj Mahal. Agra is the only place in India where the art of marble inlay is practiced. IT is used to decorate marble items like boxes, plates, table tops and small hangings inlaid with coloured stones. The art requires a lot of patience, dexterity and attention to detail.

Metal Sculpture

From the Kasargod area of the state of Kerala comes the craft of bell metal casting. Primarily this metal with is dull gold-like lustre was used for crafting huge cauldrons, upto six feet in diameter, for the royal courts and temples. Today, many ornate items like jewel boxes and jars are made. The intricate many tiered lamps with embellishments of peacocks and elephants which can be seen in many Indian temples, homes and even during the inaugural lamp-lighting ceremonies are all produced by these master sculptors.

Bell metal is also the preferred metal used in Dhokra craft. This is also practiced in the Eastern parts of India, in the areas known as Chhatisgarh, Bastar and Raigarh. The artisans use the ‘lost wax’ technique, where the sculptors wind a thin thread of wax over a clay core. It is then packed with clay from termite mounds and then baked. The wax melts and molten metal is poured in, when it cools the mould is broken and the finished sculpture revealed. While ‘lost wax’ technique is used in most parts of the world, the coiled thread technique is unique to India and finds its origins in the basket weaving practiced in the region.

In Andhra Pradesh, located towards the south west of India, sculptors make icons from bronze. In a similar manner of the ‘lost wax’ technique, the structure of the sculpture is made of wax and clay is layered over it. Molten bronze is then poured into the mould and allowed to set.  The mould is then broken in a manner that allows the head of the deity to emerge first which is considered to be a good omen. The craft is learnt from generation to generation.

In the hilly regions of North West Uttar Pradesh live the Tamtas tribals or metal casters. The speciality of their craft lies in the fact that their untensils and ritualistic prayer items are made out of a blend of two metals – copper and brass which they call the Ganga-Jamuni style – named after the two major rivers in India. The items crafted are typically vases, trays, boxes and a special type of water pitcher called ‘Kalasi’ which is a valued gifting item especially at the time of weddings amongst the tribals.

A rather unique and beautiful metalware technique of sculpting practised in India is that of Bidri. A special alloy of zinc and copper metals is created and poured into a mould made of ordinary soil made malleable with castor oil and resin. When the item is polished with copper sulphate it acquires a black finish. In this the artist inlays pure silver in artistic designs. The item is finished by polishing and buffing. The art gets its name from the village of Bidar in Karnataka where it is practised.

Wood Sculpture

The art of sculpting wood is almost as old as the history of man itself. In India this artform is most prevelant in the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The wood used is teak , rosewood and even the expensive sandalwood. The inspiration of the sculptors continues to be religious symbols and Gods and Goddesses. Scenes from the scared Hindu texts are also portrayed exquisitely in wood.

Higher north in Kashmir, the sculptors create beautifully craved items in wood which are exceptional in their detailing. The material used is walnut wood and the ‘chinar’ leaf is an oft repeated motif. The motifs like birds and flowers are sometimes raised to make the work more attractive. The items range from interior decor items like trays, boxes and bowls to small stools and tables and even large items like lattice work screens and room dividers. Other kinds of wood used are the deodar which is insect repellent and ‘chikri’ which is a fine ivory coloured wood.

Horn Sculpture

In the state of Orissa is an area called Paralakhemundi, the artist here practice the unique art of ‘horn carving’. The horns of cattle are made into interesting fluid shapes of animals and birds. Sometimes the artists also combine the horn with delicate filigree detailing. They make items like  bangles, combs, pen-stands and flower vases.

Terracotta Sculpture

If South India is known for its stone and wooden sculptures, then the Eastern state of West Bengal is known for its terracotta sculptures. Murshidabad, Birbhaum, Jessore, Hooghly and Digha are the main towns famous for their terracotta items. For the panels and sculptures, the themes remain traditional and true to their folklore. The women of the ‘khumbkar’ (potter) families also make dolls, toys  and jewellery items from terracotta.  The medium is a mix of two to three types of clay found in riverbeds. The items created are baked at 700 – 800 degrees Celsius.

Another district in West Bengal is Bankura, which is famous for its terracotta ‘Bankura Horse’. Produced only in the village of Panchmura , the Bankura Horse has now become a symbol of artistic excellence in India and has been incorporated as the official logo of the All India Handicrafts Board. The horse stands on its four legs with a rather long neck and ears and tail held erect. The structure and pose of the horse is supposed to be one of devotion and hence the initial purpose of the horse was to serve as offerings in temples and on the tombs of Muslim saints.

From the east to the west, in Rajasthan, the art of terracotta sculpture is practiced as the art of Murtikala or making votive idols. In the Molela district of the state, the red clay is got from the village lake, which is considered to be stronger than that of other villages. The clay is tempered with donkey dung and rice husk. First the tile or the base of the idols is prepared and intricate patterns drawn on it. A hole is created at the top through which the ‘murti’ can be hung in the temple or home. Then the idol is fashioned out the clay and fixed on the tile. Only when the entire tile is completely dry are the items fired. They are then allowed to retain their natural red colour or painted in bright colours as per the demand. The price charged for each depends upon the size and the intricacy of the design.

This was just some of the prominent sculptural arts practised in India, one could term it as the tip of the proverbial ice-berg. For our next article we will highlight some of the other folk arts and crafts that make India such a rich and varied country.

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