Modern craft
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A two-day re-orientation programme on the traditional crafts begins tomorrow
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LOOKING ANEW The seminar intends to expose traditional artisans to the present-day needs and tastes and reorient their time-honoured skills to contemporary relevance
Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, a prominent torchbearer of the crafts movement in the country meaningfully observed: "The craftsman is the unbroken link in the tradition that embraces both the producer and the consumer within the social and religious fabric... Art and aesthetic are deeply rooted in function. Ornamentation and decoration are not divorced from utility."
From time immemorial, the Indian sub-continent has produced a wide range of arts and crafts. In modern times, the creative axis of arts, crafts and architecture has yielded a broad spectrum of interesting products. With a view to explore possibilities of creating a meaningful and mutually beneficial association between traditional crafts persons and modern architects and designers, the Crafts Council of Karnataka has joined hands with the Indian Institute of Architects (Karnataka Chapter) and the Indian Institute of Interior Designers (Bangalore Regional Chapter) to organised a two-day seminar featuring leading lights from all the related fields. The event, Crafts in Architecture, Interiors and Landscapes, would provide a platform to discuss the role of handicrafts in current context. While exposing traditional artisans to the present-day needs and tastes and reorienting their time-honoured skills to contemporary relevance, the event would also help professional architects and designers to understand, appreciate and be inspired by some of the well established traditions deeply rooted in the country.
Besides Prof. Ashok Chatterjee, Chairman, Crafts Council of India, Chennai, other speakers and panelists at the Seminar would include Rahul Mehrotra, Nimish Patel, Gerard D'Cunha, Sanjib Chatterjee, S.G. Vasudev, Neelam Chibber and Mohan Srinath Rao, and a number of skilled master craftspersons specialised in different media like stone, wood, terracotta, metal and folk painting..
A spotlight of the programme would also be on the chittara painting, a folk-craft practiced in the Malnad region. Two of its eminent practitioners from Sagar would decorate chosen spaces at the venue and uncover some intricate designs and concepts of the age-old craft to the participants.
The seminar to be held on July 16 and 17, at the heritage building, Ganjam Mantap, Bull Temple Road, Basavanagudi, would be of particular interest to both budding and established architects as well as designers, craft persons, artists, craft-related NGOs and other enthusiasts. For details, contact Crafts Council of Karnataka on 23347299 and 55305029.
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Our own chittara
Hase Chittara wall or mural painting is a folk craft practiced by the Deewaru and Adi Dravida communities in Shimoga district of Karnataka. Women of the region traditionally paint on auspicious occasions such as weddings and festivals. The design consists of stylised geometric shapes and tribal figures, representing fertility symbols, images from nature and daily activities of the tribals. The walls are coloured with red mud found abundantly in the region and designs are drawn in white paint derived from rice paste and white mud.
ATHREYA
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