Kerala - Kozhikode   

Exhibition of designer saris

Kozhikode: Warli paintings, a form of Indian folk paintings by Warli tribals of Maharashtra, has caught the imagination of two home-makers — K.M. Lekha and Amritha Manoharan — who has done hand painted designer saris based on this tribal painting style.

Warli paintings are executed in white on austere mud walls by the tribals on special occasions, including birth, death, marriage and harvest period. The two women are gearing up for an exhibition at the Lalithakala Academy Art Gallery in Kozhikode on August 17.

Lekha’s father Vijayaraghavan was a painter who inspired Lekha to take up painting. “I have not formally learned painting. But my father, who is no more, guided me and it was he who encouraged me to take up hand painted designer saris,” says Lekha.

Both are getting ready to exhibit their hand painted designer saris, dress materials, bed spreads, table mats and curtains.

Amritha Manoharan has taken a two-year course in painting from the Universal Arts. She had also conducted an exhibition of hand painted designer saris last year. “I along with my friend Lekha started hand painted designer saris and other works.

“It will take at least one to three days to complete a work. It is the first time we have decided to conduct an exhibition,” says Lekha. Amritha says that saris available in shops will be mostly of common design.

“It is not unusual to find many women wearing the same design sari. But our design sari offers an exclusive design. We generally do a design not more than one or two times. Warli painting are also of high demand now,” says Amritha.

Warli paintings depict the body by two triangles and head by circle and thus through crude lines they show movements. Lekha and Amritha are offering designer saris in cotton, nylon, silk and georgette materials. Apart from Warli paintings, there are floral designs, geometrical and tribal designs.

Francis Kodenkandath, painter and president, Painters Club, Kozhikode, will inaugurate the exhibition-cum-sale at 5 p.m. on August 17. J.R. Prasad, president, Calicut Artists Forum, will preside over the function.

Mohandas, secretary, Painters Club will also speak on the occasion.

The exhibition will continue till August 19.

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

Stories in this Section

Exhibition of designer saris
Call to ensure country’s sovereignty, security
PSC rank-holders’ meeting
Residents’ help sought to combat theft
Painting contest held
Convention to be held
KSSP flays stance on Wariyat estate
Re-elected Marketfed vice-chairman
Kozhikode today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu