Indian art is said to be the art form that holds most traditions and oldest history among all the art forms in the world.

WHAT HAS INFLUENCED INDIAN ART?

• MOHENJO-DARO

• INFLUENCE OF BUDDHISM

• REINCARNATION

Art in India is sacred and holy. To them art is one way of expressing the message of religion.

Indian art enhances the intrinsic beauty of the materials used, applying harmoniously also vivid and contrasting colors to highlight elements that accentuate the beauty of the piece since this is an important element in the realization of their work.

Flowers, elephants, birds and fish are part of the flow of component which they were inspired.

Another important issue for them is the love between gods and their loved ones; this aspect is expressed with refined sensuality; Hugs, and body positions allude to carnal love but away from the grotesque.

WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS USED IN INDIAN ART?

1. EARTH - Square

2. WATER - Circle

3. FIRE - Triangle

4. AIR - Half Moon

5. SKY - Shape of a Droplet

ARCHITECTURE

TAJ MAHAL

An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife.

1O FOLK PAINTING FORMS THAT ARE STILL PRACTICED IN SELECT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY

1. MADHUBANI

   Also called Mithila art.

   It originated in the kingdom of Janak [in Nepal and in present-day Bihar.

   It is one of the most popular Indian folk arts, practiced mostly by women who wanted to be one with God.

   

2. MINIATURE PAINTINGS

   These paintings are characterized by its miniature size but intricate details and acute expressions.

3. PHAD

   Originating in Rajasthan, Phad is mainly a religious form of scroll painting depicting folk deities Pabuji or Devnarayan.

4. WARLI

   It is mainly the use of circles, triangles and squares to form numerous shapes and depict daily life activities like fishing, hunting, festivals, dance and more.

5. GOND

   Characterized by a sense of belonging with nature, the Gondi tribe in Madhya Pradesh created these bold, vibrantly colored paintings, depicting mainly flora and fauna.

6. KALAMKARI

   Literally meaning ‘drawings with a pen’.

   2 TYPES OF KALAMKARI IN INDIA:

   1. MATCHILIPATNAM, which originates from Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

   2. SRIKALAHASTI, which originates from Chitoor in the same state.

7. TANJORE

   You can recognize a Thanjavur painting by its use of gold foil, which glitters and lends the painting a surreal look.

   These panel paintings on wooden planks depict devotion to gods, goddesses and saints.

8. CHERIYAL SCROLLS

   Originating in present-day Telangana, this dying art form is practised by the Nakashi family only, where it has been passed down for many generations.

   They resemble modern-day comic panels, with about 50 on each scroll.

   They use primary colors and a vivid imagination, a stark contrast from the traditional rigor of Tanjore or Mysore paintings.

9. KALIGHAT PAINTINGS

   These paintings, on cloth and pattas, at first depicted Gods and Goddesses, but then took a turn towards social reform.

   With cheap paper and paint colors, squirrel hair brushes and color pigments, the art was characterized by flawless strokes, brushwork, and simple but bold drawings.

10. PATACHITRA

    A cloth-based scroll painting from Odisha and West Bengal, these paintings with sharp, angular bold lines depict epics, Gods and Goddesses.

    What’s unique about this art form is that the dress style depicted in the paintings has heavy influence of the Mughal era.

RANGOLI ART

‘Rang' meaning 'color' and 'aavalli' meaning 'row of colors'.

Rangoli is an art form, originating in the Indian subcontinent, in which patterns are created on the floor or the ground using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals.