I’ve been a fan of traditional forms of art practiced in India. I happened to meet an interesting gentleman named Mr. Ashok K.R. Das hailing from Bihar. As always, I was on the look-out for handicraft exhibitions in Bangalore. Here, I stumbled upon some exquisite Madhubani paintings.
We have used the Madhubani forms even in Instant Batik. It’s like a combination of two very diverse styles of art. The idea is to produce something new, every time, in an attempt to experiment and re-invent.
To those who are new to Madhubani art, well, this ancient Indian style of painting originated from Mithila in Bihar. Also known as Mithila painting, this art is passed on within the family itself. Drawings include scenes from daily life and religious themes based on mythological stories of deities from the Hindu religion. The paintings are attractive and the first and foremost thing that I loved is the color combination. As told by Mr. Das, many forms have symbolic meanings such as the Tree of Life and fish forms, that are currently popular amongst buyers.
Although the ancient artists used fingers or tree twigs with natural colors for their paintings, off late, one has seen a change in the art materials. Nibs are used for intricate drawings. Besides, some Madhubani artists do not use the traditional colors and methods. This was explained to me by Mr. Das himself, where he mentioned that many artists, out to make a quick buck, use ‘easy’ methods to paint Madhubani art forms which are not even genuinely from their region. Well, since I am no expert in this art form, perhaps, I may not have noticed. However, the works of Mr. Das and the team employed by him are exquisite and grand.
If adorned on the walls of any dull interiors, these are bound to liven up the atmosphere and be the center of attention.
I thank Mr. Das for spending time talking to me and for allowing me a chance to photograph his beautiful works. I wish him good luck with his future endeavors!
P.S.: The photographs are of the original works. Kindly do not reproduce the forms for materialistic gains.
