Engaging with art: Tanjore painting is now being adapted for contemporary uses

Rithu Dravid

There’s something about art that teaches us to imagine, aspire, and dream. Watching the students huddled around the art instructor, this belief is reinforced. It’s right there — seeing individuals discovering their creativity and curiosity to replicate old Tanjore art paintings on a new medium. Once just mounted on walls, Tanjore painting has now found its way to fabrics.

Bending over a piece of colourful silk fabric mounted on a wooden round ring is Brunda. She is learning how to paint traditional motifs on fabric using Tanjore art. The dazzling vibrant fabric paint colours being used to decorate the motifs add beauty and grandeur to the fabric. This is the beginning of an artistic journey for her.

Brunda is a participant at the workshop along with a dozen others. “I joined the workshop because it sounded very interesting and this traditional Tanjore wall art can now be used on fabric. I can use this as a design feature on my apparels in the future,” she says.

A perfect space where culture meets freedom of thought and expression, the Vogue Institute of Art and Design, Bengaluru, held a workshop for their students to learn to transform Tanjore art to fabric.

The walls of the rooms boast beautiful, priceless Tanjore paintings showcasing a richness of design, colour and ethnic beauty. Tanjore paintings have suddenly become hot favourites in town and in art markets. The demand has also encouraged new artists to create modern work.

The making of such art work involves dedication and meticulous work taught by a guru to his shishyas, who help students imagine, dream and recreate original ideas through application.

Tanjore artist Nagashree B N likes to reach out to eager learner just to keep the spirit of this rich art form alive. “Such workshops help students explore their artistic side and keep their curiosity alive by learning the new mode of using Tanjore paintings on fabric,”says she.

Students also used motifs of lord Krishna as Benne Krishna or Muthu Krishna pampered by his mother, with props like a flute, and a ball of butter to exhibit his strength. Other Ganas or supportive characters in mythology were also created in the paintings and were all round in shape.

Traditionally these paintings were done for wall art, that were mounted on teak wood frames intricately studded with diamonds and red rubies —an extravagant display of art. The gesso or the foil work in gold, embedded with precious stones on Chettinad wood frames gives beauty and grandeur to this ancient form of art. 

But over the years this particular art form has been transformed into contemporary art and the paintings are done on canvas, paper, MDF, home decor, fabrics, jewellery, and accessories. “Such motifs on fabric are now used to design bags, cushion covers, handbags, and even leather products, except footwear”, says Nagashree.

Motifs on fabric were decorated with trinkets, semi-precious stones and glitter to enhance the beauty of the design by the students. “I love the outcome of my creativity and I will use this fabric to make a blouse and also try to use such traditional motifs on the western wear I wear,” says Kiki.

The students are excited about the idea of adapting such traditional art styles on western wear and creating a fusion look. The Tanjore paintings inspired students to showcase their design skills. The future of this art looks promising.