Introduction Day 1, Dec 2018
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
An introduction to narrative crafts
Overall
Epics and local folktales Two types
Visual traditions: crafts that tell a story Oral traditions: used as a tool to narrate a story
Dynamics of maker-performer-patron
Adaptation
Mythology Vs Folklore
Examples
Mythology
Ramayan Mahabharat
Examples
Folklore
Gond story on deer growing antlers Peacock’s ugly feet Jadu patua-Tsunami Vishat Mata
Key differences
Mythology examples
Folklore examples
Ramayan Mahabharat 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 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 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
Mata ni Pachedi Ahmedabad, Gujarat Backdrops for the Goddess Chitara community Defiance against local traditions that barred them entry into the temples Local folklore and deities
Pattachitra Raghurajpur, West Bengal Storyboard format Main character in the centre, with story around it
Miniature painting Various parts of North and West India Highly evolved Very fine work
Oral traditions Visuals that are used as backdrops for oral tradition
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
Phad Bhilwara district, Rajasthan
Oral storytelling tradition
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
His generals Pabuji
Kesar Kalami
Kesar Kalami
Pabuji
His generals
Kesar Kalami
Scroll Pattachitra Midnapore district, West Bengal Performed by the same artisans Started with Patua
The Patua is a kind of minstrel who sings the painted story, never showing more than 2 or 3 images at a time, Scroll format Vertical
Tholu Bommalata Ananthapur district, Andhra Pradesh Leather puppets Storytelling performances Lamps have replaced puppets
Modern Adaptations
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.
Video Ad campaigns Craft: Talapattachitra, Orissa For Sulekha.com Shows a modern Arjuna nailing everything with his arrows, much like how the brand’s service
Awareness Drives Craft: Multiple For Mahindra (CSR initiative) Shows how to perform a Breast self-examination
Print Ad campaigns Craft: Multiple For Mercedes Benz Show how Mercedez is a big company unit that works together to deliver a final product
Product Design Craft: Warli, Maharashtra
For Absolut Vodka A competition was held to select design for a limited edition product
Exercises- Day One Sketch 1 folk character across 2 crafts OR Sketch 1 animal/bird across 3 crafts OR Sketch tree across 3 crafts
*Size: A5 (1 for each exercise)