Sculpture Tradition: Diverse Artistic Expressions in Clay, Metal, and Stone

These refer to the popular traditions of making sculptures in clay (terracotta), metal and stone. There are numerous such traditions across the country. Some of them are:

Sculpture Tradition: Dhokra Casting’s Intricate Metal Craft from Bastar and Beyond

• Region:  Dhokra or metal sculptures made from lost wax or cire perdue technique is one of the most prominent metal crafts of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Midnapore in West Bengal. 
  • Dhokra casting is an elaborate process. 
  • Lost Wax Casting: It involves the casting of bronze through the lost wax method. 

• Core Figure Creation: Black soil from the riverbank is mixed with rice husk and kneaded with water. The core figure or mould is made from this. 
  • Cow Dung and Clay Covering: On drying, it is covered with a second layer of cow dung mixed with clay. 
• Resin Preparation: Resin collected from the saal tree is then heated in a clay pot till it becomes liquid, which is then added with  mustard oil. 
  • The boiling liquid is then allowed to solidify but remains soft and malleable. 
  • It is, then, taken apart in small pieces, heated slightly over low-burning coal and stretched into fine threads or coils. 
  • Such threads are joined together to form strips. 
  • The dried clay form is, then, overlaid with these resin strips or coils and all decorative details and eyes, nose, etc., are added to the figures.
  • The clay form is, then, covered with layers, first of fine clay, then, with a mixture of clay and cow dung, and finally, with clay obtained from ant hills mixed with rice husk.
• Molten Metal Pouring: The molten metal was then poured into the space once occupied by resin, which would by now have evaporated. 
• Revealing Metal Image: The moulds are allowed to cool and the clay layer is hammered away to reveal the metal image.

Sculpture Tradition: Potter’s Craft Terracotta’s Artistic Offerings and Ritual Significance

• Potters Craft Terracotta: Usually, made by potters, terracotta pieces are votives or offered to local deities or used during rituals and festivals. 
• Local Clay Usage: They are made from local clay found on riverbanks or ponds. The terracotta pieces are baked for durability. 
• Regional Diversity: Whether it is Manipur or Assam in the North-East, Kuchchha in Western India, Hills in the North, Tamil Nadu in the South, Gangetic plains or Central India, there is a variety of terracotta made by people of different regions. 
• Colorful and Decorated: They are moulded, modeled by hand or made on a potter’s wheel, coloured or decorated. 
• Similar Forms and Purposes: Their forms and purposes are often similar. They are either the images of gods or goddesses.

Cultural Legacy: The Living Tradition of Indian Folk Painting and Sculpture

• Reflection of Heritage: Folk painting in India is a vibrant and diverse artistic tradition that reflects the country’s rich cultural heritage and the creativity of its people. 
• Rooted in Local Customs: These paintings, rooted in local customs, myths, and traditions, serve as windows into the diverse cultures and stories that make up India. 
• Reflect Continuity of Culture: From the intricate Madhubani paintings of Bihar to the colorful Warli art of Maharashtra, these folk paintings have not only preserved age-old traditions but also evolved to adapt to contemporary times.