INTRODUCTION Day 1, Dec 2020 The art of craft: Deciphering the design principles in Indian folk art
CEPT University Winter school 2020 Course faculty: Nisha Vikram, Udit Parekh
Introduction Day 1, Dec 2020
CraftCanvas Works with 25 craft clusters across the country
Translates traditional craft to suit modern spaces Custom installations, project-based Artisan-designer team for design and execution Public buildings, private residences and corporate offices
Multiple execution methods Onsite Offsite- Artisan location, Studio in Ahmedabad
OUR PROJECTS - Traversing through the golden ratio - Gond ceramic tiles - Tree of life, H’ble Prime minister’s office - Mural, H’ble Chief minister’s office, Gandhinagar - Tree of life, Ahmedabad The art of craft: Deciphering the design principles in Indian folk art
Introduction Day 1, Dec 2020
Fingerprint Collective Udit Parekh and Dharun Vyas founded Fingerprint Collective in 2016 A collective that envisioned the idea of a multi-disciplinary design environment in an office that is free of hierarchy and believed in design projects of a collaborative nature. Since then Fingerprint Collective has grown to have clients in UK, Singapore, India and has a strong network of design enthusiasts, artists and entrepreneurs in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Fingerprint collective has worked on projects of different scales and typologies varying from Indian crafts inspired murals, illustrations and Art installations to brand identity, logo design and event design. www.fingerprintcollective.com
OUR PROJECTS -
Airavat , Ar. munjal Bhatt Res. Layered artwork, Astral pipe Peacocks on a tree, Res. in Morbi Chikankari Seasons, Lucknow Sanjhi , Lucknow Packaging Design, Hetals homemade
The art of craft: Deciphering the design principles in Indian folk art
Introduction Day 1, Dec 2020
AN INTRODUCTION TO NARRATIVE CRAFTS
Introduction Day 1, Dec 2020
The art of craft: Deciphering the design principles in Indian folk art
STORYTELLING THROUGH CRAFTS - The hero monomyth - Role of animals - Influence of local environment
The art of craft: Deciphering the design principles in Indian folk art
Introduction Day 1, Dec 2020
The Hero monomyth
Embodies ideals that define society Take-on things bigger than ourselves Good triumphs over evil Examples Pabuji, a local legend Lord Ram, used in Kohabar as well (symbol of marriage) Vishat Mata, who triumphs amidst disadvantages
Role of Animals
Main characters Matsya Avatar
Supporting (Positive Vs Negative) Hanuman Deer used to lure Sita
Blurred lines Narasimha Avatar killing Demon Hiranyakashipu Prahlad is the hero of the story
Influence of local environment Ramayan Madhubani Tholu Bommalata
Mahabharat Pattachitra Miniature painting
Animals Tiger in Jadu Patua Fishes in Madhubani Weird animals in Gond
MYTHOLOGY VS FOLKLORE Mythology
Ramayan Mahabharat Folklore Gond story on deer growing antlers
Introduction
Peacock’s ugly feet Jadu patua-Tsunami Vishat Mata
The art of craft: Deciphering the design principles in Indian folk art
Day 1, Dec 2020
MYTHOLOGY VS FOLKLORE Mythology Ramayan
Mahabharat Folklore Gond story on deer growing antlers
Introduction
Peacock’s ugly feet Jadu patua-Tsunami Vishat Mata
The art of craft: Deciphering the design principles in Indian folk art
Day 1, Dec 2020
Key differences Mythology examples Ramayan Mahabharat
Folklore examples Gond story on deer growing antlers, peacock’s ugly feet Jadu Patua story (song version) on tsunami (a modern folklore story) Divinity Timeline Span of reach
VISUAL TRADITIONS - Gond painting - Madhubani painting - Miniature painting
The art of craft: Deciphering the design principles in Indian folk art
Introduction Day 1, Dec 2020
Gond painting Dindori District, Madhya Pradesh Gondi tribals
Gond Pardhans, singers Bada Dev on the Saja Tree Signature patterns Jangarh Shyam, the pioneer of Gond painting
Madhubani painting Madhubani district, Bihar
Believed to be the ‘maika’, father’s home of Goddess Sita Wedding processions, Kohabar, meeting of Ram-sita and their lives are the main themes
Done by women Caste determines the kind of output
Miniature painting
Various parts of North and West India
Highly evolved Very fine work
Miniature painting
ORAL TRADITIONS Visuals that are used as backdrops for oral tradition - Kaavad - Phad painting - Tholu bommalata
The art of craft: Deciphering the design principles in Indian folk art
Introduction Day 1, Dec 2020
Kaavad
Bassi district, Rajasthan Oral storytelling tradition Synergy between Kaavad maker-Kaavadiya Bhat and patron Carried around the Bhat’s neck with a rope, supported with right hand Special auditions for the patron Patron chooses how to be represented
Kaavad
Phad painting
Phad
Bhilwara district, Rajasthan Performed by Bhopas, the priest singers Usually a pair, a priest and his wife – called bhopa and bhopi – belonging to the Rabari tribe of nomadic cattle and camel herders Music by ravanhatta, a two-string instrument
Stories of local deities, Devnarayan and Pabuji Iconographically complex
Kesar Kalami
Pabuji
His generals
Kesar Kalami
Kesar Kalami
Pabuji
His generals
Kesar Kalami
Tholu bommalata Ananthapur district, Andhra Pradesh Leather puppets
Storytelling performances Lamps have replaced puppets
MODERN ADAPTATION - Political campaigns - Awareness drives - Product design
The art of craft: Deciphering the design principles in Indian folk art
Introduction Day 1, Dec 2020
Political campaigns Craft: Pattachitra, West Bengal Details of the life and development works of Akhilesh Yadav Scroll painted and song composed in Bengali, translated into Hindi The song was composed in Bengali and then translated to Hindi.
Awareness drives
Craft: Multiple For Mahindra (CSR initiative) Shows how to perform a Breast selfexamination
Product design
Craft: Warli, Maharashtra For Absolut Vodka
A competition was held to select design for a limited edition product
Illustrations
CRAFTS COVERED IN THE COURSE Brief discussion
Introduction
- Pattachitra, Odisha - Scroll pattachitra, West Bengal - Kalamkari, Andhra pradesh
The art of craft: Deciphering the design principles in Indian folk art
Day 1, Dec 2020
Pattachitra Raghurajpur, Orissa Visual tradition Storyboard format Main character in the centre, with story around it
Pattachitra
Scroll pattachitra Midnapore district, West Bengal Oral tradition-Used as backdrop Started with Patua
Scroll format Vertical
Kalamkari Srikalahasti, Andhra Pradesh A mix between the painting techniques from Persia and the story-telling traditions of Pattachitra, Orissa
Dual oral and visual tradition Oral tradition: Painter-musicians called Chitrakars travelled to villages to tell stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata Visual tradition: Used as temple hangings/scrolls Stories from the epics
Image source
Image source
Image source
Image source
EXERCISE- DAY 1 Sketch the whole or part of the composition from the examples provided. Size: A4 Output: Sketch by hand, photographed/scanned *Do make sure that each stage is scanned for use in tomorrow’s assignment