Workshop on “Rajasthani Mandana”, October 17 2023

The Department of Fine Arts in collaboration with Centre of Indian Knowledge System organized a 2 day workshop on October 17 & 18, 2023 on ‘Rajasthani Mandana Art’ under the “Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav” initiative by UGC & Ministry of Education. The theme of the event was "Literature, Lok Parampara & Folk Art". The event took place in the department gallery and started at 10.30 am. This workshop aimed to make students aware of traditional and folk art of India.

The program started with an introduction to Mandana art form wherein history, style, technique and materials were told. It was focused on how it evolved over the time and the changes occurred in contemporary time.  A structure of hut was created for the demo, on which faculties Mr. Vinod Nagar and Ms. Dimple Dalal demonstrated the complete process to accustom participants with the different types of mandana art.

The students began with the preparation of a base also called a matrix using varied materials such as canvas, ivory sheet, MDF board, wood, buff sheet and cloth. Thereafter a layer of red clay mixed with fevicol and water was applied to the base. Once base dried, hirmich (term for natural Indian red color) , was applied on the top, the process called as lipai(layering) after which designs were made using chuna(term for natural Indian white color). Free hand style of drawing was emphasized as it the main characteristic of mandana art. For designing, symbolism continued in the customary style such as Peacock, paglaya(goddess laxmi feet), birds and so on followed for decoration. It was told to the students specifically that in present day brushes are used but earlier wood sticks rolled with cotton were used to make free flow patterns. Also, for white hue acrylic white is used instead of chuna in the current scenario. 

The session ended with a quick query session where students got the chance to express and clarify their doubts regarding their artistic experience. To appreciate the aesthetics of all the art pieces created by the participants, an exhibition of the complete works was held in the gallery of the Department of Fine Arts. It was appreciated by the art connoisseurs and the faculties of the University. This turned out to be a very informative yet creative process for the students. They were surely acquainted with the knowledge of Indian traditional Folk Art Mandana.