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Classic miniature art in new avatar ruling the fashion world

Indian miniature art has always been an expression from the deep recesses of the soul.

I’ve often heard stories of the old times where the artist worked to express their inner aspiration and produced exquisite work from the deep recesses of one’s soul and yet never left their name on it! Indian Miniature Art has always been an expression from the deep recesses of the soul. These are beautiful colourful handmade paintings in miniscule scale with intricate and delicate brushwork giving them a unique identity. In Rajasthan School of painting, Ragamala Paintings are another such expression. Ragamala painting, as the name suggests, is agarland of Ragas where each Raga is personified and has its own distinctive character and story, has its own form, colour and mood, elucidating different seasons and time at which a particular Raga must be sung…

The artist enjoyed the patronage and could give the undivided time needed to complete even a tiny piece requiring intricate and delicate brushwork. However, in the humdrum of modernity and the rat race attitude, the artist’s aspiration and expression have been lost impoverishing our finer sensibilities and refined aesthetics. Today, in the stress to make ends meet, the artist is unable to produce works of art that touch one to the core.

In the handloom and hand-woven saree space, most of the artists have resorted to more commercial creations in order to sustain the business. However, in our pursuit of talent, skill and soulful expression, we have interacted with several artists and identified a few who have not yet lost the inner connection. However, they lack the means to express it. While some source those unique hand-painted marvels, others creatively collaborate to create these masterpieces. There are only a handful of retailers in India who have had the acumen to identify this talent and nurture such artists by providing them with the means as well as the language to connect with modern urban clientele.

Like a painting, no two hand-painted sarees are ever the same. The sarees depict the creativity and the colour flows with each stroke and once the masterpiece is created, it is as unique and exclusive as you. There will never be another.

* Disclaimer: The article has been contributed by Seema Agarwal, Co-founder, Artisan Saga. The opinions expressed in this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and views appearing in this article do not reflect the views of Deccan Chronicle and Deccan Chronicle does not assume any responsibility and liability for the same.

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