akshara
03 February 2010, 01:12 AM
The mural artists of India have exuberantly colored the walls of India in grandeur, especially the murals of Rajastan . Kerala murals, a part of the great Indian painting tradition, has a history of a millennium, influenced by the practice of dhoolichitra( kalamezhuthu) . The artist led by the meditational verse (dhyana shloka) outlines the figure of the deity to be created, and the painting progresses.
Known for the color symbolism, the artists made color from leaves, dug out of earth, by burning coconut shells, and then mixed with either lime juice or coconut water.
The wall surfaces too had to undergo preparation. It saw an expert use of jaggery, milk, resins in required proportions, and so much care had gone into the making of brushes using bamboo and certain types of grass and roots.
15 th to 18th centuries saw the golden period of Kerala mural paintings. Palaces, temples and houses were adorned with murals. Moistly the figures were of Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha, Ayyappa, Durga and celestial nymphs, and the favorite themes were Ramayana and Lord Krishna’ story.
The Padmanabhapuram palace, the palace of the Rajas of the erstwhile Travancore has the enchanting murals of Krishna with gopies. Also the ‘Sree Rama with Seetha’ in Kottakkal temple of Kerala , Ramayana pictures at the Mattanchery palace prove the creative freedom the artists used.
While the figures in the paintings follow the ancient sacred texts, it should be noted that exaggerated stylization was also followed by the artists.
Known for the color symbolism, the artists made color from leaves, dug out of earth, by burning coconut shells, and then mixed with either lime juice or coconut water.
The wall surfaces too had to undergo preparation. It saw an expert use of jaggery, milk, resins in required proportions, and so much care had gone into the making of brushes using bamboo and certain types of grass and roots.
15 th to 18th centuries saw the golden period of Kerala mural paintings. Palaces, temples and houses were adorned with murals. Moistly the figures were of Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha, Ayyappa, Durga and celestial nymphs, and the favorite themes were Ramayana and Lord Krishna’ story.
The Padmanabhapuram palace, the palace of the Rajas of the erstwhile Travancore has the enchanting murals of Krishna with gopies. Also the ‘Sree Rama with Seetha’ in Kottakkal temple of Kerala , Ramayana pictures at the Mattanchery palace prove the creative freedom the artists used.
While the figures in the paintings follow the ancient sacred texts, it should be noted that exaggerated stylization was also followed by the artists.