Kolkata Centre for Creativity added a new event to its calendar and Ramjhol Rajasthan: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow went beyond the ordinary to present the rich culture of the region with traditional art forms like Pichhwai painting, Phad painting and captivating performances apart from engaging talks and workshops. The three-day festival that started on August 18, presented Dingal and Maand, two rare genres of poetry and music, respectively, that developed in the feudal milieu and are unique to the region. Scholars, poets, craftsmen and artists from across Rajasthan including Bikaner, Barmer, Alwar and Beawar participated in this conclave.
Carpet weaving forms an integral part of Rajasthan and this display gave a sneak peek into the ageold art form that has now been contemporarised to reach newer customers.
Mapping Cultures by Madan Meena, a visual artist and a researcher of oral and textile traditions hailing from Kota, Rajasthan, gave the audience a glimpse of his expertise in map-making, block-printing and miniature painting. Curated by Vishes Kothari, Madan draws inspiration from the Barahmasa theme, using imagery and motifs to depict the seasons and their moods. He also uses his extensive research on the Ajrakh printing traditions in his work, bringing imagery of chilies from Mathania, miniature paintings from Bundi and Kota and the Indus Valley sites of Kalibangan.