The Hindu : Karnataka News : Artists’ depiction of folk beliefs

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Wednesday, Jun 04, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Artists’ depiction of folk beliefs

Shankar Bennur

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Terracotta exhibit at Janapada Kathe at IGRMS in Mysore.

MYSORE: This exhibition is special for many reasons: the exhibits reveal the myth and legends of the days of yore. The culture of the land having history of thousands of years can be understood through a close glimpse of the displayed art. They tell the stories that are current among various population groups in the country.

Welcome to Janapada Kathe, an open-air exhibition, on the premises of the Southern Regional Centre of the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) in Mysore.

The exhibition, which has artists’ depictions of folk beliefs, was inaugurated in April 2008 at the Wellington House, where the IGRMS is located, during the eighth annual day celebrations of the sangrahalaya, an autonomous institution under the Union Government’s Department of Culture.

Twenty exhibits have been developed and thrown open for public viewing. These exhibits have been prepared in the medium of clay, terracotta, stone, iron, and also paintings, by artists who have made an attempt to introduce visitors to folk tales from 21 population groups from various States.

These are not merely display of art works but mainly expression of beliefs of various artisan communities as also a tribute to their ancestors, according to IGRMS.

India is known as a treasure house of myths and legends. Every Indian community has mythological stories related to its origin and survival on earth as well as other tales, stories, beliefs that act as an identity marker for it (community).

“The exhibition is an attempt to highlight the folk culture and traditions of the communities in the form of paintings and terracotta exhibits,” says Vijay Mohan, officer in-charge of IGRMS.

He told The Hindu that the paintings would be replaced with others after some days so that the folk beliefs of other populations are also accommodated.

Among the exhibits are an iron mural depicting “Gotul”, a Gond painting showing the disappearance of God from Earth, a Bhil painting portraying the invoking of “Pithora” and the installation of “Gatla”, a “Warli” painting of the marriage “chauk”, a “Tarpa” dance and the celebration of “Simgha” festival, a mural painting with the story of “Nalakubera”, “Manisriva” and “Balagopala”, a story of “Raja Shailesh”, “Reshma” and “Kushma” in the medium of terracotta, a “Phad” painting, Lankapuri Hanuman and Ramayan Katha, Surapur painting of “Dasoha Gnana”, terracotta figures of “Bonga Hathi”, “Bankura” horse, “Raja Hathi”, Owl, “Kalli Buri”, Ganesh and Manasa Kalash, terracotta offerings for “Gramdev” or the village deity, a gift of toddy-palm tree — “Nakkashipattam”, “Badadev” and the creation of universe, the rituals of “Mendka Bihav”, “Kham” and “Votive” terracotta elephants and lion, “Ayyannar Kovil and “Lillari Kothi”.

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