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Explore the rich and vibrant history of ancient India through various art forms such as shadow puppetry, classical dance, scroll paintings, and comic books. Discover the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata that have been preserved for centuries. Witness the skill and creativity of puppeteers, dancers, painters, and storytellers who continue to bring the past alive through their art.
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Ancient India is Preserved through the Visual Arts India is one of the few modern day countries that the past is evident in everyday life. It is an example of “living history”.
Background Information: • Elaborately created puppets are projected onto a sheet or screen • The ancient art is over 1,000 years old • Originated in India • Traveled on to Southeast Asia, Turkey, China, and Japan • Before TV and movies shadow puppetry was a popular form of entertainment as well as education in South India
Puppeteers would travel from village to village with their families and put on their show • It was a family business—fathers would pass down the oral stories and handmade puppets to their sons • Shadow plays were based upon episodes from the ancient epic stories the Ramayana and Mahubarata
RAMAYANA • One of the most beloved stories in India • Started in India over 2000 years ago • Ramayana initially was spread by storytellers • Story lives on today through shadow puppetry and other art forms, such as literature, comic books, dance, scrolls, and paintings
Job of the Puppeteer • Repeats the long and complicated epic stories. • Skillfully and dramatically narrates the stories. • Manipulates the puppet figures. • Does different voices for EACH character.
Produces sound effects, sings, and cues up the recorded music • Creates figures from hides of goats • Repairs old or damaged puppets
Made out of goat skin. The leather is hand painted and assembled by hand. Puppetry in India
Classical Indian Dance • 8 different types of classical dance. • Form of dance appealed more to the commoners, and it educated them about their religion, culture and social life. • At least 3,000 year old art form. • Statues found in Harappa/Mohenjo-Daro with dancers.
Dances tell stories of the gods and goddess and stories from the Ramayana. • Dancers use precise hand movements, body language (miming), and their eyes to help tell the story.
Dances from Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu
Chennai dancers • Dance of Pune
This is a traditional scroll-style painting made by the Patuas of West Bengal. • Traditional artisan caste specializing in the production of painted narrative scrolls and songs to accompany their unrolling. • This has been around since the 13th century and possibly even longer.
Stories on the scrolls vary from religious themes, social themes, legends from Indian culture, Hindu-Muslim interaction, and even modern day issues such as 9-11, Tsunami of ’06. • This sub caste wanders from village to village singing their compositions while unwinding painted scrolls. • Snake Goddess Scroll
Comic Books, Stories, Ramayana BoxFamous stories such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata have been preserved for years through story books, comic books, minature paintings, and visual 3-D art such as the Ramayana Box.
“Descent of the Ganges” is a myth retold not just verbally but in stone carvings in the Southern Part of Indian in Panchantra. Here is an example of this wonderful display of art showing this myth.
Through the visual arts, India has sustained its rich and vibrant history up to this day.