Renjini Thampi's art works: Indian hues, reimagined

Santhal, gond, kalamkari... imagery forgotten by history come alive in Renjini Thampi’s art works

March 22, 2018 03:36 pm | Updated March 23, 2018 01:35 pm IST

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Have you wondered how, before Western modern art grew popular in India, the regional artistes gave wings to their imagination? Get a glimpse of the myriad art forms of India through the canvas of Renjini Thampi, displayed at the exhibition called Rustic Hues of India, this weekend in Puducherry.

“I am trying to make people aware about the artistic discourses of India. While indigenous art practises such as the Tanjore paintings are famous, there are so many other dying art forms. There is no one to revive these,” says the Cochin-based artist. The exhibition displays 23 paintings. There are also information cards along with each that explains the region, what made it special when it was made and the cultural context.

While there are kalamkari, warli and madhubani works, there are also the less famous ones such as the santhal, gond, Kalighat, kangra and phad paintings.

Thampi, who grew up in Dubai, had her first brush with indigenous art works of India through the Global Village art event. “I got exposed to so many new forms like Kerala murals, for instance. I went all the way to Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram and learnt it later directly from the people who practised it.”

The most difficult form to learn was Thangka, art form practised in Buddhist monasteries across the North-east, Nepal and China. “These paintings depict Buddhist culture, gods, goddesses and incarnations. It has a lot of inner meaning. It took me quite a while to understand the intricacies.”

The paintings are priced from ₹3,000 to ₹25,000. The exhibition is showcased at Maison Colombani Hall, Alliance Francaise till March 25, 10 am to 7 pm.

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