Lakhi Chand Jain, is the first man who paints contemporary mandanas on canvass.
Text by Meeta
Text by Meeta
Journey- facts- impacts
Basically I am graduate in applied arts and by profession I, am associated with the different discipline of designs. However, I am firmly pledged strongly to the art of Mandana, which I learnt from my grandmother and mother, when I was eight-year-old. She gave me a unique brush in my hand to draw the mandana. This brush was made from stem of tuvar plant with cotton stuck covered on the one end. Initially, I drew mandana by crooked lines. I remember that my grandmother and mother sat up at night to make the mandana on the festival of lights. I used to lie with my head in my grandmother’s lap and wonder what she was doing. She would tell me old stories related to the art of mandana.
Basically I am graduate in applied arts and by profession I, am associated with the different discipline of designs. However, I am firmly pledged strongly to the art of Mandana, which I learnt from my grandmother and mother, when I was eight-year-old. She gave me a unique brush in my hand to draw the mandana. This brush was made from stem of tuvar plant with cotton stuck covered on the one end. Initially, I drew mandana by crooked lines. I remember that my grandmother and mother sat up at night to make the mandana on the festival of lights. I used to lie with my head in my grandmother’s lap and wonder what she was doing. She would tell me old stories related to the art of mandana.
Around 30 years ago mandana was expressed only in the traditional environment and manners- on the walls of mud houses, floor and in the courtyard. It was not feasible to transplant slab of these mud walls and floor surfaces. So, I have adapted traditional mandana from floor to modern canvass. I have painted it on canvas and eco-craft papers with keeping the traditional and folk ambience. I’m trying to give a new lease of life to the mandana with modern means. From the beginning, mandana is not a part of my profession, but; my passion. I’m trying to keep it as a treasure. I'll take efforts only on those projects, where mandana art comes alive and to keep his loftiness, respect and sacredness.
About the mandana…
Mandana is a one of the folk arts that is reflecting a sign of an India’s traditional artistic ability and inspiring belief. It is a unique form of folk art that graces homes on Indian festivals and auspicious days. Traditionally it is depicting as a sign of prayer, beauty and joy. This art form takes shapes on the walls of mud houses, floor and in the courtyard etc. The wall mandanas are mostly consist of spontaneous-freehand form of flowers, plants & nature living objects like- birds and animals, while the floor mandanas are depicts geometric and symbolic forms and non-living objects. The symbols in the floor mandana paintings were a means of learning and exploring, meditation, sexuality, decoration and culture. The diagrams and forms in mandana have distinct meanings.
Mandanagraphy@india?
It is simple story behind the label- mandanagraphy@india, in the changing scenario to create an interest and appealing to the masses about the mandana art. I gave it new-fangled characteristics to this art form called- Mandanagraphy. Actually this folk art is based on geometrical, simply graphic forms, and it will be linked to the many things like science of vastu, beauty, holy charms, spiritualism, yantra-tantra etc. So I have been tied-up ‘graphy’ word with the mandana, as well as this art represent India that cause adding ‘india’ with the mandanagraphy. Under this tag, I have created so many mandana paintings on contemporary subjects and objects with modern means.
Why did you keep manadana?
This form of arts I acknowledged as a treasure from my grandmother in the age of eight. Mandana is a very simple form of art. I love its simplicity– crisscross, straight, diagonal, vertical, horizontal, curved lines, dots, unevenness and boldness of forms, which knock my heart, and keep me joyful. Simply white color helps to relieve stress, which gives me a sole energy and it helps me express myself.
How do you map to expand the art form to future generations?
However, this folk art has taken a fade due to the fact that today, we do not have those old earthen homes, mud walls, courtyards and verandahs to sanctify, decorate and sport this unique art. So, I’ve designed a unique workshop program for art, fashion and designing students, through the workshop programme students get many interesting things related to the art and study the process of mandana making.
I have done research, documentation and, tried to restore this art by using new mediums, tools and technology. Over the past 25 years, I have seen the different changes in the mandana. In fact, mandana art itself is struggling and now due to the urbanization, it is facing the phase of transition. It has to keep holding to the mandana for the future generation
What is the scope in the commercial communication world?
Mandana have a wide scope in the design based fields like fashion, textile, home furnishing and interior designing. The skills and energy of mandana artisans of our country is not used and channelized in right amount in technology based fields.
What the future of mandana art form is in today’s new age world?
As village culture vanishes, mandana art will fade out from our lives. Today the original forms, the core of the mandana art are impossible to archive and conservation. The truth is mandana artisans are tired now due to old age. New generation of mandana artisan families in changing environments themselves instead of learning the new technology, is in favor of adoption of new skills and mediums. Education, livelihood- looking for employment and for various reasons- they have neither the time nor the interest learning the mandana. Today’s generation mostly have the objective behind of learning the art is only to earn the money. However this art is articulated only for peace of mind, relaxation, and joy to enhance our inner creative expression.
About the mandana…
Mandana is a one of the folk arts that is reflecting a sign of an India’s traditional artistic ability and inspiring belief. It is a unique form of folk art that graces homes on Indian festivals and auspicious days. Traditionally it is depicting as a sign of prayer, beauty and joy. This art form takes shapes on the walls of mud houses, floor and in the courtyard etc. The wall mandanas are mostly consist of spontaneous-freehand form of flowers, plants & nature living objects like- birds and animals, while the floor mandanas are depicts geometric and symbolic forms and non-living objects. The symbols in the floor mandana paintings were a means of learning and exploring, meditation, sexuality, decoration and culture. The diagrams and forms in mandana have distinct meanings.
Mandanagraphy@india?
It is simple story behind the label- mandanagraphy@india, in the changing scenario to create an interest and appealing to the masses about the mandana art. I gave it new-fangled characteristics to this art form called- Mandanagraphy. Actually this folk art is based on geometrical, simply graphic forms, and it will be linked to the many things like science of vastu, beauty, holy charms, spiritualism, yantra-tantra etc. So I have been tied-up ‘graphy’ word with the mandana, as well as this art represent India that cause adding ‘india’ with the mandanagraphy. Under this tag, I have created so many mandana paintings on contemporary subjects and objects with modern means.
Why did you keep manadana?
This form of arts I acknowledged as a treasure from my grandmother in the age of eight. Mandana is a very simple form of art. I love its simplicity– crisscross, straight, diagonal, vertical, horizontal, curved lines, dots, unevenness and boldness of forms, which knock my heart, and keep me joyful. Simply white color helps to relieve stress, which gives me a sole energy and it helps me express myself.
How do you map to expand the art form to future generations?
However, this folk art has taken a fade due to the fact that today, we do not have those old earthen homes, mud walls, courtyards and verandahs to sanctify, decorate and sport this unique art. So, I’ve designed a unique workshop program for art, fashion and designing students, through the workshop programme students get many interesting things related to the art and study the process of mandana making.
I have done research, documentation and, tried to restore this art by using new mediums, tools and technology. Over the past 25 years, I have seen the different changes in the mandana. In fact, mandana art itself is struggling and now due to the urbanization, it is facing the phase of transition. It has to keep holding to the mandana for the future generation
What is the scope in the commercial communication world?
Mandana have a wide scope in the design based fields like fashion, textile, home furnishing and interior designing. The skills and energy of mandana artisans of our country is not used and channelized in right amount in technology based fields.
What the future of mandana art form is in today’s new age world?
As village culture vanishes, mandana art will fade out from our lives. Today the original forms, the core of the mandana art are impossible to archive and conservation. The truth is mandana artisans are tired now due to old age. New generation of mandana artisan families in changing environments themselves instead of learning the new technology, is in favor of adoption of new skills and mediums. Education, livelihood- looking for employment and for various reasons- they have neither the time nor the interest learning the mandana. Today’s generation mostly have the objective behind of learning the art is only to earn the money. However this art is articulated only for peace of mind, relaxation, and joy to enhance our inner creative expression.
**