| |
|
| 
You are here:
Home
>> Orient
Crafts >> India
>> Culture >>
Culture & Arts
|
 |
CULTURE & ARTS
MUSIC, DANCE, THEATER AND PAINTING
India 's performing arts are simultaneously modes of worship and a joyous celebration of life. Music and dance originated in the temples, gradually acquiring a secular, more sensuous character as royal patrons founded individual schools (gharanas). Two prominent classical forms in this region are Kathak and Hindustani music. The artiste creates a mood (rasa) which invites the audience to participate in it so as to make the performance a mutually shared experience.
Two distinct schools of painting, Rajput and Mughal, emerged in 16 th century North India . The meteoric growth and popularity of miniature painting was due to the introduction of paper as well as the lavish patronage of Muslim and Rajput rulers. The Mughals encouraged Persian miniature painters to settle in India where they came into contact with indigenous traditions. A fusion of the two styles under Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan led to a burst of artistic activity when court painters, such as Mansur, produced folios of birds, flowers, royal portraits and illustrated manuscripts. As Mughal patronage declined in the 18 th century, other regional centers of art developed in North India.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Handicraft items that were patronized by the Mughal royalty show a remarkable refinement of workmanship. In these crafts the designs were very often influenced by the court paintings and miniature art derived from Persian or indigenous sources. These designs are evident in the Indian carpets, brocades, papier-mache, stone inlay and so on.
Claycraft
Clay craft is probably the earliest of man's creations. Clay pottery is an ancient art form in India dating back to well over 10,000 years. The clay objects found at the excavation sites of the Indus Valley Civilisation point to the high quality of skill and technology of the Indian potter. Jhuker Pottery was related with the people of the Harappan towns like Amri and Chanhudaro situated in Sind . The Red Ware was the most popular type of pottery during the late-Vedic period. It has been discovered from many archaeological sites in western Uttar Pradesh. The Painted Grey Ware was another distinctive form of pottery of the Vedic times that consisted of bowls and dishes, which were used for rituals and for eating. The appearance of Northern Black Polished Ware (NBP) marked the beginning of the second phase of urbanisation in India. This was a very glossy and shiny type of pottery made of very fine fabric.
Textiles
Textiles came to be associated with social and ritualistic events from very early times. Sacred images are clothed and the texts, whether on palm leaves or on paper, are tied in bright textile pieces. Fabrics that use mill-spun yarn but which are hand-woven are known as handloom. Cotton is the soul of the handloom industry of India today. Before the introduction of mechanized means of spinning in the early 19th century, Indian cottons and silks were hand spun and hand woven. Khadi became a highly popular fabric as a result of the swadeshi movement. Today cotton is an integral part of textiles in India . Nearly four million handlooms are engaged in weaving fabrics of nearly 23 different varieties of cotton.
Papier Mache
In the hands of Indian craftsmen, horn, shola pith, coconut shell, tortoise shell, conch shell and papier maché are used to create excellent products. Combs made out of horn are very common and are made in different forms. Some combs are traditional, double sided with gentle carvings on them, others more decorative with ivory or mother of pearl inlay. Items like small animals and birds, toy furniture, buttons, trays, cigarette cases and lamps are also made.
.gif)
|
|