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Art lovers' delight
Drawing colourful inspirations.
A STUDENT flattens out a delicate piece of gold foil on a nearly completed Tanjore painting of Lord Krishna, at a training workshop organised by the Government Museum. Though incomplete, her work dazzles the eye, with its intricate, ornate work and shining red and green stones.
The weeklong workshop, which will end this Friday, saw homemakers and college students learn this 18th century art form. "A lot of women are interested in learning Tanjore painting, because it is trendy today to know a traditional art, but more importantly, they can use it as showpieces in their own home," explains K.A. Murugesan, instructor of the workshop, an expert in canvas as well as Tanjore painting, who has been teaching this art for a decade now.
At a cost of Rs.1,800, Mr. Murugesan provides all requisite material to make a Tanjore painting in the workshop: the wooden board, cloth, poster colours, paste and stones and gold foil for the relief work.
The workshop participants spend a whole day, working on their paintings and getting the proportion, tone and symmetry just right. "It is quite difficult and arduous, but the prospect of owning a nice Tanjore painting that I can tell others was made by me is an incentive," states Gandhimathi, a participant, emphatically.
Indeed, the bright hues and beautiful stones of her work make for a pleasant object of possession.
The annual workshop, into its seventh year, has also greatly helped to preserve and popularise the art in the city, as many of the participants go on to teach it to others, notes Mr. Murugesan. Though quite expensive, Tanjore painting is quite popular and, depending on size and the intricacy of work, a painting can cost something like Rs.300 to Rs.30,000 and much more.
Tanjore painting, as the name suggests, originated in Thanjavur in the 18th century, when the Marathas ruled it. They are unique and instantly recognisable, with their bright colours, interspersed with colourful Jaipur stones. The painting style is said to be a blend of formal and folk art. The subjects of traditional Tanjore paintings are images of Gods and Godesses, characterised by robust forms, intricate architectural details that constitute the background and effusive, vibrant colours.
Today Tanjore painting is the delight of art lovers, traditional and modern. It has also become popular in many homes. This has probably spawned a number of art schools and teachers to pass on and thus indirectly preserve this glorious tradition.
Yet, the art is quite self-contained and does not lend itself to too much experimentation, or blending or fusion with other styles of painting, notes Mr. Murugesan. This is attested by the fact that the most popular themes continue to be images of Gods and Goddesses, especially Krishna in various poses. "But I do receive orders to paint Jesus Christ, Velankanni, Sai Baba, Tiruvalluvar and sometimes even portraits," he adds.
By Preethi Chandrasekar.
Photo: K. Ganesan.
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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