THE EXQUISITE ART OF INDIA

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Have you ever wonder about the ancient arts of our neighboring countries?     

Let us visit the country of India! you are going to learn about Indian art that I know you will enjoy. Keep on reading!           

   There are several fascinating art works around the world. Each country has its own ancient art that are still present today and it plays a significant role in the daily life and activities of the people.

INDIA is the largest country in South Asia. The Arts of India reflects different aspects of Indian culture. Indian arts remain fundamental to the lives of the people of India. 

 Indian Art is divided in different periods namely:

 ANCIENT PERIOD

Ajanta Caves of Maharashtra

Some evidences of the early civilization are bronze and copper statuettes and steatite seals which show vigor and concern for the surface texture as constantly characterized in Indian art. The Ajanta Caves of Maharashtra, India are 30 rock-out cave monuments that date back from the 2^nd century BCE to the 600 CE, including paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, as well as frescos that are reminiscent of the Sigiriya paintings in Sri Lanka.

CLASSICAL PERIOD

Shiva

The image of Shiva (as illustrated in the picture), the destroyer, develops into Shiva the Cosmic-dancer represented by a four-armed figure. In this figure, one hand holds the fire with which he destroys, another holds a drum, which is the first sound heard in the world during the first creation, then the third arm points up in reassuring gesture, and a fourth arm points down to the dwarf in which he dances to.

ISLAMIC ASCENDANCY OR TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

This was the period of evolution from Vedism into Hinduism or Brahmanism. The two great Indian epics:  the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, emerged in this period.

MOGUL PERIOD

Taj Mahal

Moguls contributed to the enrichment of Indian culture in painting and in architecture. The most splendid example is the Taj Mahal built in 1632 by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife

DIWALI

Diyas

DIWALI is celebrated by Hindus in India and all around the world in October or November.

Lakshmi

 It is a Hindu New Year and is either a 3-day or 5-day holiday depending on where you come from. It is a very exciting and colorful holiday, where homes are cleaned to welcome the New Year and windows are opened so that the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, can enter. 

Hindu believe that she cannot enter a house which is not lit u, so every household burns special Diwali clay lamps (diyas) to light the way for the goddess. This is why the holiday is also known as the “Festival of Lights”

  RANGOLI

RANGOLI is one of the most beautiful and most pleasing art forms of India. It comes from the words “rang” meaning color and “aavalli”meaning “colored creepers” or “row of colors”. 

Rangoli is the art of making designs or patterns on the walls or the floor of the house using finely ground white powder along with different colors. Numerous households in the Indian subcontinent make use of rangoli designs for decorating the courtyard of their houses.

The traditional form of rangoli made use of designs and motifs based on nature, such as mangoes, creepers, flowers, swans, peacocks, etc. Even the colors in the traditional art form were extracted from natural dyes, like barks of trees, leaves, indigo plant, etc. These days, synthetic dyes have more or less replaced the natural dyes of the earlier times.

The materials used in the rangoli patterns of today give either a very flat appearance or a 3-D effect. Rangoli designs include geometric patterns, the swastika, lotus, trident, fish conch, creepers, leaves, trees, flowers, animals, etc.

Samples of Rangoli Designs

Geometric Pattern

Mango

Flower

Creepers

Swan

Peacock

Swastika

Lotus

Trident

Fish

Conch

I hope you appreciate the Indian art!

Art plays a significant role in the daily life and activities of the people in India.

Unique Lines, forms, shapes, colors, motifs, and designs are manifested in the art of India.

Resourcefulness and clarity are keys to successful art activities. The art Of India reflects the dominant attitudes toward the important aspects of life of the period which produced them as a mirror of cultural history.

we can better  understand and appreciate a work of beauty and vitality by understanding its place in historical community.

What do you like the most about Indian art?

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Reference: Music and Arts of Asia Learner's Module gr.8, pp. 304-307