Mother and Son..... the Singing Painters of Naya
Patachitra, an ancient folk art of Bengal, is appreciated by art lovers all over the world for its effortless style of drawings, colours, lines and space usage. The painters are called Patuas. The Patuas paint tales on long scrolls of cloth (patta) and sing them as they unfurl the scrolls. Their diverse repertoire includes mythological stories, tribal folk lore, social messages and narrations on contemporary events. Patuas generally use natural colours, which they procure from various trees, leaves, flowers and clays.
Patuas (and Chitrakars) have been referred to in literary works dating back to more than 2500 years. Some researchers opine that Patachitra was originally an art form of the local tribal Hindu community. With the growing influence of Buddhism, the Patuas embraced the faith. Buddhist kings and monks made extensive use of scroll paintings to preach Buddhism and during this time Patachitra probably spread to Bali, Java, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. Chinese scholar Hiuen Tsang in his memoirs, dating back to the seventh century, had written about some prominent Buddhist monasteries in Tamralipta state. The recent excavation sites at Moghalmari, a few kilometres off Dantan in West Midnapore, is only 75 km from Naya village. With Muslim invasions in Bengal, Islam spread and the Patuas became followers of Islam.
Since 2004, banglanatak dot com is working with 230 Patuas in Naya village (Pingla, West Midnapore) to rejuvenate this dying art form. Patuas have learned to make diverse products using their painting skills. Project Ethno-magic Going Global (EGG), an ongoing initiative by banglanatak dot com supported by the European Union has facilitated interaction between Patuas and Contemporary painters and new media artists from Europe .
Pot Maya 2015 (13 Nov to 15 Nov)
Since 2010, a three day festival in November named Pot Maya is being held at Naya, organized by CHITRATARU (Cluster of Patachitra Artists in Pingla), to showcase this rich oral tradition of a community skilled in translating their ideas through colourful images and soulful tunes - where the artworks are being displayed, workshops are being organized with visitors learning the process of making natural paint.
Further Reading:
Naya – The village of Singing Painters at Midnapore
Mother and Son..... the Singing Painters of Naya
Patachitra, an ancient folk art of Bengal, is appreciated by art lovers all over the world for its effortless style of drawings, colours, lines and space usage. The painters are called Patuas. The Patuas paint tales on long scrolls of cloth (patta) and sing them as they unfurl the scrolls. Their diverse repertoire includes mythological stories, tribal folk lore, social messages and narrations on contemporary events. Patuas generally use natural colours, which they procure from various trees, leaves, flowers and clays.
Patuas (and Chitrakars) have been referred to in literary works dating back to more than 2500 years. Some researchers opine that Patachitra was originally an art form of the local tribal Hindu community. With the growing influence of Buddhism, the Patuas embraced the faith. Buddhist kings and monks made extensive use of scroll paintings to preach Buddhism and during this time Patachitra probably spread to Bali, Java, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. Chinese scholar Hiuen Tsang in his memoirs, dating back to the seventh century, had written about some prominent Buddhist monasteries in Tamralipta state. The recent excavation sites at Moghalmari, a few kilometres off Dantan in West Midnapore, is only 75 km from Naya village. With Muslim invasions in Bengal, Islam spread and the Patuas became followers of Islam.
Since 2004, banglanatak dot com is working with 230 Patuas in Naya village (Pingla, West Midnapore) to rejuvenate this dying art form. Patuas have learned to make diverse products using their painting skills. Project Ethno-magic Going Global (EGG), an ongoing initiative by banglanatak dot com supported by the European Union has facilitated interaction between Patuas and Contemporary painters and new media artists from Europe .
Pot Maya 2015 (13 Nov to 15 Nov)
Since 2010, a three day festival in November named Pot Maya is being held at Naya, organized by CHITRATARU (Cluster of Patachitra Artists in Pingla), to showcase this rich oral tradition of a community skilled in translating their ideas through colourful images and soulful tunes - where the artworks are being displayed, workshops are being organized with visitors learning the process of making natural paint.
Further Reading:
Naya – The village of Singing Painters at Midnapore