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Madhubani-Mithila painting exhibition in South Africa
Durban, June 11: An exhibition of paintings from the historic Mithila region of Bihar is on at the Indian Consul General office here.
Durban, June 11: An exhibition of paintings from the historic Mithila region of Bihar is on at the Indian Consul General office here.
The paintings, brought to South Africa by the Ethnic Arts
Foundation (EAF), represent the works of the Brahmin, Karna
Kayastha and Dusadh communities of villages in the
Madhubani-Mithila area of Bihar.
"The paintings were derived from an ancient wall painting and tradition rooted in the daily and life cycle rituals of the region," David Szanton of the EAF said at the inauguration of the exhibition yesterday.
The paintings were originally limited to gods and goddesses and ritual and symbolic images. But today the painters were also depicting episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabarata, local myths and legends, and scenes from daily village life.
Over the years the organization has managed to send tens of thousands of dollars to the painters' families and the villages, he said adding, "the artists are paid twice as an incentive to do their best, most saleable work."
Szanton said in January this year the organisation established a free Mithila Art Institute at Madhubani where students were developing their talents and skills in a career in art in the Mithila tradition.
Bureau Report
"The paintings were derived from an ancient wall painting and tradition rooted in the daily and life cycle rituals of the region," David Szanton of the EAF said at the inauguration of the exhibition yesterday.
The paintings were originally limited to gods and goddesses and ritual and symbolic images. But today the painters were also depicting episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabarata, local myths and legends, and scenes from daily village life.
Over the years the organization has managed to send tens of thousands of dollars to the painters' families and the villages, he said adding, "the artists are paid twice as an incentive to do their best, most saleable work."
Szanton said in January this year the organisation established a free Mithila Art Institute at Madhubani where students were developing their talents and skills in a career in art in the Mithila tradition.
Bureau Report