"My River' -an Artists camp in association with Nila Foundation

on Sunday 4^th April 2010

between 10am &1pm noon

Venue:Manavedan Auditorium,Thrissala Bhagavathi Temple,Mankave Palace,Calicut 7

What was once the life line of Kerala, is today a decaying, dying river. It is out of concern for Bharatapuzha (River Nila): the erosion of the river banks, the dilution of its culture, neglect and depletion of its resources - that the Nila Foundation was formed five years ago in Kerala. Foundation provides a platform for those who feel for the rivers and its depleting status, and for those who want to positively contribute to its conservation.

Titled, 'Puzha Malayalam', the 400-page book is looking at a participatory model where people from different spheres of life join us in the publication of the book. As a small step towards this, we are inviting interested people through a
drawing competition from across the world to sketch the introductory pages of the fourteen chapters.
'My river' is the theme of the competition. This could be a reflection of your insights or experiences associated with rivers.This could be about rivers from any parts of the world. Use your imagination to show the role of rivers played in your life. Let the river flow, from Nila to Ganges, to Thames to Danube...

Out of the sketches, we will select 14 entries in three different age categories, which will be incorporated into the individual chapters of the book. The winners of 14 entries will also get an opportunity to have an experiential holiday for a week along Bharatapuzha (River Nila) that gives insights into its culture, folk art forms, history, people and life.

A board of experts commissioned by Nila Foundation  will be short-listing and selecting the winning entries.

Selected entries will also be exhibited at the book launch on 05 June 2010 at Thunjan Parambu literature park in Tirur, Kerala.

As the awards will have three categories for ages below 10, 18 and above, we welcome people from all ages to participate in this initiative. 

Please register before April 3, 2009.

(For details please call: 9846363688 or 9746647651 Hari Kumar,Mankave)

 

Address:Nila Foundation
SMAAS, Kandath Complex Poongottukulam,
Tirur- 676101 Malppuram(Dist), Kerala, India
Ph: +91.9446280603 / 9605396238Contact person: Prakash Memail address to sent the sketches: nilafoundation2010@gmail.com
Subject: Sketches for Puzha Malayalam

 

Day 12 at 'the Flute Recital'-mural in acrylic on Canvas

Dr Reghuraj,Rahul,Panini and Aathira work simultaneously on diffent sections of the mural.

Right behind, the  mural class is on  for Kannan,Pranav,Sudev,Sooraj,and Reshmi

 

Guru Sasi Edavarad keeps an eye on the work in progress:

Guru Sasi points out important aspects to be kept in mind

 Outside, Naveen and Sachchu, wait patiently, for Rahul,Sudev,Panini, Pranav and Sooraj to end their their mural session and join them for a game of football.

 

As the boys leave, Dr Reghuraj observes, while Guru Sasi Edavarad takes up the brush.

 Day 12 saw some brisk activity and substantial progress.

Saint Tyagaraja's Nauka Charitam,illustrated by Sasi Edavarad

These are thumbnail  illustrations, made by Sasi Edavarad for the book "Saint Tyagaraja's Nauka Charitam" with an Attakatha by Late Kalamandalam Kesavan Asan.Nauca Charitam as Kathakali was produced by Sangeethasabha Mankave  and premiered at Trissala Bhagavati Temple Festival
on 11.11.2007.Doordarshan Malayalam (DD4)

(in the pic,Krishna and Gopis plan take a boat ride on the river Yamuna)

recorded the event and relayed Nauca Charitam-Kathakali, on three different occassions on both DD 4 & Malayalam National Channels in 2008 and 2009.

A sudden storm develops and the boat is about to capsize in the waters.

Krishna rescues the damsels in distress

Gopis praise Krishna :
Gandhamu puyyaruga..panneeru gandhamu puyyaru ga

 For better clarity:pl visit Facebook@

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=931&id=100000571300726&ref=mf#!/album.php?aid=931&id=100000571300726

Putana from Vishnu Temple in Pundareekapuram,Kerala

The Vishnu Temple in  Pundareekapuram , in Aleppy District of Kerala , has some exquisite and well preserved murals on its walls.The artists relished painting Krishna's life in Vrindavan.

The death of demoness Putana, who was sent to poison the infant Krishna, is depicted in one of the panels(left).

Mural artist Sasi Edavarad has recreated the demoness Putana from Vishnu Temple in Pundareekapuram, drawn in acrylic on canvas in 2007, it is now part of the inventory of Dhyanasankalpam- an open studio for murals, at Mankave,Calicut

Krishna and a peacock from 16CAD,Trissur,Kerala

The tradition of Mural painting in Kerala according to Sivaramamurthi began in   16 th CAD.The district of Thrissur houses some of the earliest wall paintings, starting with the pallimana Siva Temple , which has the most enchanting painting of Krishna playing the flute(above)

To the left is the beautiful peacock from the ChemmanthattaSiva Temple , also in Trissur district of Kerala.







Mural artist Sasi Edavarad has recreated both the above exquisite examples of Kerala Mural tradition in his canvasses:

Both these canvasses are part of the inventory of Dhyanasankalpam-an open studio for murals -at Mankave,Calicut,Kerala.

The Handsome Lotus Plucker from Sittanavasal Cave Temple

The rock-cut Jain temple of Sittannavasal (7th CAD-9th CAD) in Tamil Nadu has an arthamandapa ,porch, whose ceiling is covered with mural paintings to 'emphasise the beauty of nature.Floral creepers,,lotuses,birds,swans,a rare human face and arabasques-painted in delicate lyrical lines by the artists,- constitute the harmonious whole that is nature'(See,Meera Seth-Indian Painting-the great mural tradition' ,Mapin,2006).

Sasi Edavarad in the year 2007 has re-created the delicate ,sensitive and lyrical magic of the handsome lotus plucker from Sittanavasal cave temple in this acrylic painting on a 2x3 feet canvas. This canvas is now part of the inventory of 'Dhyanasankalpam' - an open studio for murals, at Mankave,Calicut.

Steady progress on the canvas at the open studio

Summer is in.Day 10 begins with Guru Sasi Edavarad pointing out the fine details to be kept in mind while working on the ornaments and folds of the dress and other embellishments:

 

 The boys as usual, leave after a while for a game of football, leaving Dr Reghuraj to unwind at the canvas:

 A typical scene at the open studio

 

 

 A game of football

 

 Navneet, the youngest member of the open studio , is packing up his crayons to leave.

 

 The football lands in the pond, Sudev , with an Agassi -hairdo-and his friend come to take a look as Panini ,removes his shirt to enter the temple and retrieve the ball from the pond.The regular residents of the pond,viz., water snakes,frogs,fish and tortoises take a plunge and disappear in a trice.

 

Clips of 'Netronmeelanam ' ceremony uploaded to Facebook

Netronmeelanam videos
'Netronmeelanam' is the final act of infusing spirit of life into a mural by drawing the pupils of the eye.This was held on 1st Dec 2009, in the most befitting and traditional way to the accompaniment of  a recital of dhyana slokas and of auspicious instruments viz edakka and conch.Sasi Edavarad and his team of students were felicitated on the occassion by Dr Ravi Raja.

Mural painting:a 'spent force' or a victim of 'willful ignorance'

The above is excerpted from  the the book titled 'Raja Ravi Varma' published by the Govt of Kerala, with introduction by Sri E.M.J.Venniyoor on behalf of Kerala Lalith Kala Academi(1981 edn )

Murals: Cross Section& Natural Pigments,dyes,minerals as raw Materials

Minor Traditions in Indian Art (contd)

Veerabhadra (Aghora-Siva)accompanied by a dog, from Karnataka:

Shiva as the ash smeared ascetic in cosmic movement, afire with the energy of Tapas or yogic meditation, Madubani, Bihar







 Below:From Rajput tradition

The Kalighat School of Calcutta

minor traditions (from Battala)in depicting gods prior to Printing Press revolution

Some lesser known /minor art traditions in depicting Indian gods prior to Printing Press revolution:

 

Calendar Gods and Goddesses enter every Indian home thanks to printing press revolution

Calendar Gods and Goddesses entered every Indian home thanks to printing press revolution by early 19th century:

These new world gods and goddesses look straight and deep into the devotees eyes.
The devotee who previously used to close her eyes and contemplate /meditate  on paramatma , can now 'interact' with the Gods/Goddesses. The calenders are affordable,easy to carry , foldable, durable, and user-friendly too? They also to some extent standardised the indian perception of  individual gods like Krishna,Siva, Rama Laxmi, Sita .