Lucknow: Folk and tribal arts are arts related to the land and are not only the identity of any nation but also the pride. Geographical diversity in India endows us with immense expanse of folktales, but changing lifestyle due to modernization and increasing distance from nature are hindering the advancement of our folk arts.
A three-day workshop organized by the Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Vandana Sehgal and her team of artists at the local College of Architecture will be helpful in promoting folk and tribal artists as well as in awakening the necessary social consciousness. This was said by the chief guest, senior artist Jai Krishna Aggarwal, at the inauguration of the three-day folk and tribal art camp that started at the Faculty of Architecture and Planning. He further said that only India has the highest number of folk and tribal arts in the world and these arts are in most need of conservation.
As a special guest, Professor Ritu Gulati, Head of the Department of Architecture, said that whenever we go to foreign countries, we see efforts to conserve their art and artists, in which the place of origin and creation of those arts is developed as a tourist destination. We should also make similar meaningful efforts. He further said that apart from awards, basic facilities should be provided to the artists of these folk and tribal art forms. We all have to make every effort to encourage them. This art camp is an important link in this effort.
Bhupendra Kumar Asthana, noted arts curator said that India is a country with diverse art and culture. When natural art in the form of paintings, music, dance etc. is presented by a common man without any pomp and show, it is called folk art. The traditional arts passed down from generation to generation in many castes and tribes of India are called folk art.
He said – India’s arts and crafts have always been a medium to express its cultural and traditional effectiveness. All the states spread across the country have their own special cultural and traditional identity, which is reflected in the different forms of art prevalent there. Every state of India has its own special style and method of art which is known as folk art. Apart from folk art, there is another form of traditional art which is prevalent among different tribes and rural people. It is classified as tribal art.
The folk and tribal arts of India, despite being very traditional and simple, are so alive and impressive that they automatically give an idea of the rich heritage of the country. The traditional arts or crafts associated with our cultural roots are gradually dying out as the context is disappearing with new ethos and new technology in modern times. This art is a way of life. As the way of life is changing, the need for these creations is also increasing.
This camp is an effort to bring endangered arts, crafts and their artists to the fore. In this camp, Bholanath Karmakar, the only artist of Serpai genre who came from West Bengal, said that at present we are the only family who is working in this genre. The main attractions in the camp are the technical aspects of the artists, all the artworks made from natural colors and natural materials.
Camp coordinators Dheeraj Yadav (Uttar Pradesh) and Binoy Paul (Assam) told that a three-day All India Folk and Tribal Festival will be organized in the exhibition room of Doshi Bhawan of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Tagore Marg Nadwa Road campus of Lucknow, the city of artists and litterateurs.
The grand inauguration of Art Camp, Folk Art Utsav was done on 2 May 2024. The curator of this camp is Dr. Vandana Sehgal. In this camp, many famous folk and tribal arts from four states of the country (Northeast, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh), Ram Shabd Singh – Kohbar Art from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Dulal Malakar – Shola Peeth – Assam, Khagen Goswami – Majuli Mask – Assam, Dinesh Soni – Pichwai Art – Rajasthan, Diganta Hazarika – Sanchi Pat – Assam, Brindaban Chanda – Lakh Daul – West Bengal, Bholanath Karmakar – Sherpai – West Bengal, Seramuddin Chitrakar – Patchitra – West Bengal, Gandhi Paul – Shora Chitra – Assam , Vidya Devi – Mandana Art – Rajasthan, Abhishek Joshi – Phad Painting – Rajasthan), eleven artists from diverse traditions and genres have participated. All these artists will work in their respective genres till May 4.
On this occasion, Madhav (Bantus Furniture), Girish Pandey, Meenakshi Khemka (Assistant Director, State Museum), Ratnapriya Kant, Shubha Dwivedi and a large number of students, teachers, artists and art lovers of the Faculty of Architecture and College of Arts and Crafts were present.
