[torryquine]

I found this intriguing collection of images on the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.u...ings/html/1.stm

[iwanttogoback]

intriguing only just begins to describe them.

thanks.

[priya]

Fascinating!!!  There weren't enough of them!!!

[Judi]

Hey, these are great, thanks.  Real 'food for thought'.

[torryquine]

Paagla Dashu, on Nov 8 2006, 08:55 PM, said:

These are traditional art forms used by "Patua"s to narrate stories.

Painting on scrolls was a popular art form in Orissa as well - the "Patachitra" of Raghunathpur (village near Puri) are absolute priceless treasures - only a few families still practice the art form of painting on scrolls made from dried palm leaves with organic paints made from nature's flowers, plants and fruits.

Thanks for that Paagla.  Yes I agree, these forms of "folk art" are priceless and often tell us much more about people's lives and times than "high art"

[jyotirmoy]

Pata is a Bangla word evolved from the Sanskrit patta meaning cloth. An art work drawn on a piece of silk or cotton or any other fabric portraying traditional motifs of religion and society is called pat art. As an art form pat is very ancient. Though much weakened under the impact of modernity, this form of art is still practised by uninitiated rural artists and still in demand in the folk society. As a folk art it makes an important element of Bengal cultural heritage.
Pata art is of two kinds - art on broad sheet of folded cloth and eye-art on short piece of fabric. The fabric in fact makes the base for pat art. Clay, cow-dung and some sticky elements are skillfully sprouted on the fabric. When dried, the fabric becomes tough but mellow enough for sustaining the stroke of the artist's brushes. Pata artists draw on it religious motifs, such as gods and goddesses, Puranic stories, slokas, etc. This art form flourished particularly during the Buddhist period in Bengal. The pata art carried the life sketch of the Buddha and of his sayings and anecdotes.
The schematic style does not reveal any urge for artistic innovation. The training in the handed down style includes memorisation of set patterns, lines, colours, and the poses and postures of the trends left by the forefathers. Despite some limitations, the style shows unique formal simplification and superb colour orchestration. It features all the traditional qualities of Bengal folk art. From the 12th/13th century to the end of the nineteenth century patuas or pata artists were very active in this art. The main centres of pata art were Dhaka, Noakhali, Mymensingh and Rajshahi in Bangladesh, and Birbhum, Bankura, Nadia, Murshidabad, Hughli and Midnapur in West Bengal.