Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
Pretty gift: A Sewdish artisan, Karin Tiberg, right, presenting an idol of a horse to a family in Pudukottai on Tuesday. PUDUKOTTAI: Three artisans from Sweden are camping in Pudukottai district for a cause: to popularise the dying rural art of making terracotta and clay horses used as idols at Ayyanar temples. In many villages in the district, including Vaarapoor and Mazhaiyur, a large number of sculptors have for generations been making horses that are dedicated to Lord Sastha. “Unfortunately, the art is losing its vigour, as the younger generation of their families is not keen on pursuing the art,” says Karin Tiberg, 69, from Gotland Island in Sweden. She makes horses in bronze, mostly given as trophies in equestrian games. “I inherited the interest in traditional art forms from my father, a linguist at the University of Uppsala. My upbringing has been influenced by his efforts at preserving traditional art forms and ancient languages.” After she came to know about the art of making giant-sized horse idols in Pudukottai villages, she decided to visit the artisans and spend a few days with them to learn the techniques. Together with Ake Nobling and his wife Eva Nobling, both studio potters, Ms. Tiberg learnt a lot about Ayyanar horses, referring to various books at the Gnanalaya Library here. They had also gained information about the art at Puducherry and the University of Madras, going through the papers submitted at international workshops. The team understood the nuances of making the horses, interacting with the artisans at Vaarapoor, 23 km from here. Assisted by them, Ms. Tiberg herself designed a couple of medium-sized horses. She donated one to a friend at Pudukottai on Tuesday, and the other, which she herself had worked, would be baked in a kiln on Wednesday. With patronage for the Ayyanar idols on the rise, especially in five star hotels and restaurants, there is a strong case for popularising the art, says Ms. Tiberg.
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