Learn the lingo
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Terms from the world of the arts made easy.
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Ashtapadi Kavita Dwibedi in action
Dance, Music
Ashtapadi: Literally, a poem of eight couplets. The term refers most specifically to the poems in Jayadeva’s 12th Century epic work, Gitagovind. This tells the story of Radha’s relationship with Krishna: how she is unable t
o bear Krishna’s popularity with all the other cowherd maidens, how the separation from him makes her ill, and Krishna too longs for her. Radha’s friend or sakhi plays a pivotal role in bringing the estranged lovers together. The Gitagovind comprises 24 ashtapadis, linked by shorter verses or shlokas. According to the philosophy of madhura bhakti, Radha, Krishna and the sakhi are symbols of the mortal soul (Jeeva atma), the Supreme Soul (Paramatma) and the guru, who leads one to the other.
Ashtapadis commonly performed as part of the Odissi repertoire, as well as Bharatanatyam. An interesting feature of ashtapadis is that they are sung in musical genres from across India, for example Hindustani, Carnatic, Odissi and Sopana sangeet.
Visual Arts
Gouache on marbled wasli
Gouache refers to water paint. It is taken from Italian guazzo meaning splash. Historians also call it body colour. It is a type of paint consisting of pigment suspended in water. Gouache differs from watercolour because the particles in it are larger. So the ratio of pigment to water is much higher. This makes gouache heavier and more opaque, with greater reflective qualities. A wasli is layered paper specifically used for miniature paintings.
A medium like gouache on marbled wasli means that a paste of marble granules prepared by using turpentine oil gouache is added layer-by-layer. It is stirred many times for a harmonious effect. A wasli, tempered with Arabic gum is then dipped into it to get the required colour on wasli. In case the artist needs a darker wasli paper, he/she dips it many times. Pakistani artist Attiya Shaukat, for instance, has used gold/ silver and gouache on marbled wasli in a few of her recent creations.
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