The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Madhubani paintings on sale

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 06, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Madhubani paintings on sale

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: The National Folklore Support Centre is holding an exhibition and sale of Madhubani paintings by traditional artists from Bihar till July 7.

Apart from framed parchment paintings that start at Rs. 400, greeting cards and bookmarks are available for Rs. 20.

A masterpiece worked on by an artist for a whole year is priced at Rs. 1.1 lakh.

"The work by the artists — Kiran Devi, Shanti Devi and Phoolmaya Devi — is very special because it represents three different creative perspectives," says B.A. Vigneshwari, a research assistant with the folklore support centre.

Art lovers, who want unique designs, can request the artists to create unique paintings for them.

Tribal style

Some paintings focus mainly on gods and goddesses while others show plant and animal life.

The tribal style has comparatively less colour and resembles mono-colour tattoos. Pens, and occasionally brushes, are used to paint.

Madhubani, which in literal translation means `forest of honey', is a small village in the northern part of Bihar.

The traditional artists now reside mainly in the district of Jitwanpur. Madhubani paintings are usually done on paper treated with cow dung. Natural paints are used.

The display is on from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 5th floor, Kaveri Complex, near Hotel Ganpat, 96, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Nungambakkam. Call 42138410 for details.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu