ART FORMS in INDIA

In our ever-evolving world, characterized by hope and hardship, art serves as a reminder of our capacity to overcome. Indian art—with a history spanning five thousand years and a range of forms from cave paintings to temple sculptures—has profoundly impacted the global artistic landscape. Its heritage and multifaceted cultural traditions have contributed to worldwide artistic expression, enabling mutual comprehension.

India’s art is a kinaesthetic experience, an element as vital as cultural interpretations and historical accounts. The goal of the following narrative is to bring alive the dynamic world of Indian art forms, beyond the musings of academia.

Why does a canvas captivate? It colors our vision, forging a connection between the artist’s imagination and our own. The rich naturalism in art of India’s medieval period with attention to detail – from the graceful arch of an eyebrow to the delicate folds of a robe, is only a thread in an eternal tapestry of shared, wordless language. Pichwai, adorned with intricacy and radiant colors, transforms deities into divine visions, adding layers of mystique and reverence. Tanjore paintings, resplendent with gold leaf, embody spiritual devotion, their subjects bathed in luminescence. While these bring vibrancy, scroll paintings like Cheriyal and Pattachitra unfurl the ingenuity of a meticulous layering of khadi, mud, and paste over which intricate outlines are sketched. Blending folklore with regional customs, the paintings invite us to journey through time. Born from the same soil, each brushstroke a testament to the enduring legacy of designed delight.

We are born into a tactile world. We learn to distinguish between textures even before we learn to distinguish words and objects. Art stimulates us because it allows us to touch the past. The artistry and craftsmanship, of Banarasi silk, with its exquisite weave, stands as a pinnacle of smoothness. It caresses with intricate silver and gold zari work, the magic of meticulous hand weaving. Meanwhile, Khadi, representing Indian textile heritage, embraces ruggedness. Crafted from cotton, silk, or woolen yarns, Khadi boasts a robust texture, it’s embrace warm in winter and cool in summer. While Channapatna toys bear a polished elegance, born from the carving, lacquering, and hand-painting softwood, the statues of Mahabalipuram awe with magnificent coarseness. Hewn from diorite and granite, their rough surfaces scale legends in stone. This breadth of Indian art is inspirational, calling us to discover a variety of human expressions, relishing its beauty and complexity.

Music takes the body, carving undulating grooves in our subconscious on an endless loop. In the vibrant world of Kathakali dance, where tales from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata come to life, sound takes center stage as a powerful storyteller. The dancers passionately enact ancient narratives, their vigorous movements, the clink of their costumes, the thrum of ghunghroos accompanied by unforgettable drumbeats. The percussion artistry of a Mridangam, Ghatam, Tabla, Morsing, and Dholak in Carnatic music performances infuse life force in an auditory landscape. On this landscape, the Alap emerges as another distinct feature, a melody carrying the silence of soul. This serenity, of the moment following the astounding vocal prowess, heightens anticipation in the audience and allows the Raga to blossom. India’s artistic repertoire is a harmonious symphony.

Every day brings a myriad of experiences, but the senses of smell and taste have a unique way of tying an occurrence to emotion, transforming it into a memory that we hold onto. The smell of camphor and incense, the scent of a dozen different and equally colorful powders and oils, and the smell of the saris make a Bharatnatyam recital a phantasmagorical experience. It is not simply that the earthy scent of fresh clay in pottery or the smell of the ink and aging paper in traditional manuscripts is a part of Indian art, it is an art.
In India’s cultural history, the art of smell holds a special place. From evidence of the early use of incense and incense burners in the Vedas, particularly the Atharva Veda and the Rig Veda, insights into craft abound. Rooted in the Ayurvedic medical system, incense is an intricate blend of resins, woods, flowers, and herbs, to heal and elevate the spirit. The creation of fragrances was considered one of the essential arts. Over time, India became a prominent producer of incense, the legacy continues, with the government supporting incense artisans through initiatives like the ‘Khadi Agarbatti Atma Nirbhar Mission.’ As for taste, the tang of tamarind, the zing of ginger, and the saltiness of ghee are no less a part of Indian tradition. Indian cuisine, a potpourri of flavors, spices, and regional specialties, is a beloved art form that celebrates the diversity of the subcontinent’s culinary traditions.

I can’t understand the sky the way a vulture does but having felt the texture of an embroidered Kantha shawl, admired the ephemeral beauty of a Rangoli design, marveled at the intensity of a Kalarippayattu martial arts performance, and reveled in the soothing notes of a sitar, I understand my country.