Press Release
A variety of workshops like Terracotta Pot making, papermaking, Kishangarh style painting and Phad painting are being organised at Shilpgram. The workshops are being conducted by experts and are free of charge. Visitors are trying their hand at new and unique forms of art guided by experts. Through the workshops the participants are also learning about Rajasthan’s fading traditional heritage and conservation of the environment.
Terracotta Pots Workshop
The terracotta pot making workshop in the 10-day Lokrang at JKK is being conducted by Prem Shankar and Narayan from the from Molela village in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan village. Visitors here are trying their hand at making terracotta pots on their own. In the workshop, children are putting smooth black clay on a slow moving wheel to make lamps, kulhads, flower pots, bells and other things. The objects made are then dried in the shade so that they don’t crack. After this they are designed with the help of an instrument called Baldi. After drying these items for 2-3 days in the sun they are baked at a temperature of 900 to 1000 degrees to make them strong. The items then turn into the traditional terracotta colour.
Kishangarh Chitra Shaili Workshop
In ‘Kishangarh Chitra Shaili’ workshop by Khush Narayan Jangid of Jaipur, both children and adults alike are seen creating beautiful ‘Bani-Thani’ paintings every day. The workshop of ‘Bani-Thani’ painting style of Kishangarh is most popular among the children. Participants were seen showcasing their artistic talent with colours on Bani-Thani paintings.
Kishangarh painting style is a part of the 9 painting styles of Rajasthan. In the 17th century, Maharaja Sawant Singh of Kishangarh had a portrait made in the Bani-Thani style by his painter, Nihalchand. Bani-Thani paintings are a symbol of art, love and devotion. The sharp nose and the eyes similar to that of the ‘Khanjan bird’ are unique to this painting style. Colours like white, pink and green are used in abundance in ‘Bani Thani’ paintings. This style is considered very close to the Kangra Chitra style.
Phad Paintings
Children are also enthusiastically participating in the ‘Phad Painting’ workshop. Drawing on a paper sheet, children are using natural colours with a brush. This workshop is being conducted by Kalyan Joshi of Bhilwara, who is a national-level awardee artist. Joshi informed that in the Bhilwara region of Rajasthan, traditional paintings are based on the life of folk deities, Devnarayan and Pabuji and their valour stories are called Phad paintings. They are made on cotton cloth and are 18 to 20 feet in length. Devnarayan’s Phad painting depicts ‘green horse’ and ‘snake’, while Pabuji’s Phad painting depicts ‘black coloured mare’ and ‘spear’. Green, blue, brown, red, yellow and black colours are used in this type of painting.
Paper-Making Workshop
Children are learning paper recycling in the Paper-making workshops organized by Mirza Akbar Baig Kagji of Chittorgarh. Participants are learning how to grind old paper clippings after soaking them in water a few hours. With the help of ‘Jalinuma’ (dye), most of the children tried their hand at paper making. They also learned about the various types of designs.