About | Theme: Creative | Roll
The two pictures that I chose for this theme represent two of the most enjoyable occasions of creativity that I participated in.
Note: A short explanation (from Wikipedia) is in order before I post the pictures. [Skip the explanation - in block quotes - if you already know what a Rangoli is]
Rangoli is one of the most popular art forms in India. It is a form of sandpainting decoration that uses finely ground white powder and colours, and is used commonly outside homes in India. Rangoli can be wall art as well as floor art. The term rangoli is derived from words rang (colour) and aavalli (’coloured creepers’ or ‘row of colours’). The colors generally are very fine pigment podwers like those available for Holi or colors specially sold for rangoli in South India. The designs are symbolic and common to the entire country, and can include geometrical patterns, with lines, dots, squares, circles, triangles; the swastika, lotus, trident, fish, conch shell, footprints (supposed to be of goddess Lakshmi), creepers, leaves, trees, flowers, animals and anthropomorphic figures. These motifs often are modified to fit in with the local images and rhythms. Rangoli can be improvised into diverse visual art forms. For instance, it can be used to make elaborate images that look as if they were painted (some examples of such Rangolis can be seen here & here). Sprinkling powder by hand is a very laborious and difficult process, however, and it’s difficult to render fine details - meaning the image must be quite large.
I was part of the our class’s Rangoli team back in medical college. The team had three boys and nine girls. Prem, Adhithyaselvi & I were in-charge of sketching the images on the concrete floor. The others were responsible for mixing and sprinkling the coloured powders. (Prem is now a laparoscopic surgeon in Chennai & Adhi is a physician in New Jersey - she emigrated after marrying an engineer employed in the US).
We were the winners of the Rangoli prize for the three years (1991, 1992 & 1993) that we took part in the competitive college cultural program.
I could find two of the photos of our prize-winning Rangolis, digitize them and reproduce them here…
The first one shows two Rangoli’s on the floor of the designated exhibit hall. The one in the foreground of the goddess Meenakshi was the second prize winner (made by our senior class), the one in the background of Yasodha holding the infant Krishna is ours. I don’t have a better picture of our entry.
The next one is our prize winning entry for the next year depicting Lord Shiva.
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Vijay, these are amazing. The detail is amazing considering the technique. I think you were very creative in this effort and it’s a pity you don’t have more photos of your efforts.
PS can you make the links in the explanation, second last line, so we can see those examples?
regards
jmb
Thanks JMB. I forgot what we did for the third year and I don’t have a photo in my collection.
The links are working now.
I regret that we never took photos of the pencil sketches and paintings that Prem, Adhi & I won prizes for
I just realized that the first link takes you to a discussion board of the Students Union of AIIMS, India’s premier medical institution. Great work by the medical students there. If you scroll down, you can see a few work-in-progress shots and an amazing rangoli of a lion’s head featured in a newspaper article.
They are absolutely beautiful !! I cannot begin to imagine the patience required to lay the sand/pigment.
What do you do if you make a mistake ?
WOW! Those are gorgeous!
I can’t even begin to imagine the precision involved in creating those beautiful pieces of art!
wow- that’s amazing!
Those are amazing. It reminds me of the Buddhist sand paintings of which I know nothing. Thank you for sharing!
Vijay, for someone who claims he just “doodles,” you had to be chosen (out of 12!) as one of the only two artists to actually render the drawing that the others would fill with colored sand. Those pictures are just amazing!
I have a feeling that you could draw quite well today, if you decided to … =o)
Those are simply amazing. Is there some way to do that on canvas and preserve it somehow to make it into a wall hanging. Does it have to be on the floor? And what happens to it when you are finished? Those are just awesome! Thanks for sharing your talent and have a great week.
ViJay,
Absolutely beautiful! Do you ever wish you were still doing Rangoli? Do you think your girls might do it someday?
Wow, Vijay, what an amazing thing to see. I should post up some of my stained glass work. It won’t compare to those, but you might enjoy seeing some of the things I work on.
I’ll have to keep up on your blog better. I thought I was a frequent guest, but seems I’ve missed quite a bit.
I just made a quick post about myself on my site, to introduce myself better to those that are out there in the circle and with out it. You might have a better idea of who I am then. Look for a post titled “Take Your Shoes Off and Stay a While”, if you’d like to know.
Best to you
Hi, vacation — well I’m a week too late - but that does not mean this post is out of date. Not at all. Excellent - so to speak
I apologize to all those who commented for not responding. It was a busy week and I just forgot about responding to comments. Working on the principle of ‘better late than never,’ here are my responses:
MSW: We hope and pray that a mistake isn’t made. It’s tough to correct mistakes. Some you can literally gloss over with a fresh sprinkling of powder over the existing layer.
Lois , Carlota, meeyauw & Moof: Thanks. The Buddhist ’sand paintings’ are called mandalas, about which I too know nearly nothing. The Wikidpedia article that I linked to has a lot of details if you are interested.
kissedalotatoads - my compliments on the wonderful name and very descriptive picture in your blog
The only way to preserve Rangolis are to take photographs or to make sure that no one sweeps the floor.
Rimona: Though a lot of people do Rangolis individually, I don’t think I have the patience or the inclination now. It was fun then as it was a competitive team event. My daughter might develop an interest though, as I find her fascinated by the kolams that my wife and mother draw in front of our house.
Chrysalis Angel: Please post some of your work on your blog. I’m sure many of your friends would love to see them.
TorAa: I don’t know what to make of your very cryptic comment, but thanks anyway
Hey Thatha, I am pretty sure there should be another picture of the Krishna from the same vantage point as the Shiva picture. I am pretty sure because I took most of the those pictures. There should also be one with whole team standing behind it.
I gave Shyam all my negatives, I am guessing you inherited them? Unfortunately I don’t remember the third year either… I guess it isn’t burned into my head because it was a given that our team would win anyway