Restoring art & interiors

World Art Daywas celebrated on April 15 to build awareness on creative activity. Ranjani Govind takes a look at the making of Thanjavur and Mysore paintings, now an intrinsic part of ethnic decor.

April 15 in 2012 was adopted by the International Association of Art, a partner of UNESCO, to spread awareness on art movements (in honour of Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday) that contribute positively towards society. Two royal painting arts in India, Thanjavur and Mysore, that faced survival issues, are dynamically being propagated by veteran practitioners and colleges of art. Their efforts to teach the intricacies to connoisseurs will help the heritage art live on and help indigenous Indian art get included in interior spaces. While Thanjavur paintings are named after a style of painting that flourished in the temple town in Tamil Nadu under the patronage of the Maratha rulers in the 17th Century, the Mysore school of painting in Karnataka had the discerning patronage of the erstwhile Mysore royals. Both received an impetus when Thanjavur and Mysuru were emerging as centres of art, learning, music and performing arts. The two royal arts were recognised for their elaborate and ornate attributes. They were in need of revival once the dynasty rule ended in several parts if India. Gradually they were adapted by leading practitioners to suit a common man’s wall. Thanjavur and Mysore school of painting are now being taught for creating economic empowerment amongst the artists’ fraternity, while interior designers who feel the need to encourage Indian handmade art, recommend them forethnic interiors. Raghavendra H. Kulkarni, professor of art and history, College of Fine Arts, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, says although the two schools may look similar, the themes in Mysore paintings reflect a comparatively fresher thought process adapted by the kings to bring in finer line drawings. They depict elaborate landscapes and darbar halls and elephants in contrast to the intensely rich picturisation of religious characters in Thanjavur paintings.