India’s only daily newspaper for Art, Architecture, and Design.
Pithora painting originates among the Rathwa and related communities in the Chhota Udepur and Panchmahal districts of Gujarat and adjoining areas of Madhya Pradesh. Families commission these large wall murals as part of vows to Baba Pithora, a chief deity who grants protection, health and prosperity. When a family experiences hardship and then witnesses improvement, […]
Pithora Painting of the Rathwa: Ritual Maps of Devotion Read More »
Gond painting grows out of the visual and oral traditions of the Pardhan Gonds and related Gond communities across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, eastern Maharashtra, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The word “Gond” derives from the Dravidian expression “kond,” which refers to green mountains and points to the community’s long relationship with hilly forested terrain. Historically, Pardhan
Gond Painting of Central India: Myth, Nature and Modern Markets Read More »
Delhi High Court will soon hear a landmark case filed by five Bidri artisans from Bidar against eyewear retailer Lenskart for allegedly infringing the Geographical Indication (GI) tag “Bidriware”. Creative Dignity’s Craft IP Cell is supporting the suit, spotlighting it as a critical stand against corporate exploitation of traditional crafts. Petitioners and court filing The
Bidri Artisans Sue Lenskart Over GI Misuse Read More »
Gallery Vayu, in collaboration with utsaco, presents Threads that Bind: The Kantha Project, a new exhibition curated by Amit Vijaya. It is On view from March 11 to 20, 2026, at Gallery Vayu, Lodhi Road. The show brings together textile artworks that reimagine the traditional craft of kantha as a site of contemporary artistic and philosophical inquiry.
Threads That Bind: Reframing Kantha in Contemporary Context Read More »
Vishal Bhand Ph.D. The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed the landscape of design, from generative visuals and predictive trend analysis to automated prototyping and mass customization. As algorithms become increasingly capable of simulating creativity, an inevitable question arises: What happens to human-led design, craft practices, and traditional knowledge systems in the age
Beyond the Algorithm: AI, Design, and the Enduring Value of Craft Read More »
Paitkar, sometimes written as Pyatkar, refers to a scroll painting tradition that centres today on Amadubi village in the East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. Chitrakar families, who work as hereditary painter‑storytellers, create the scrolls and perform them in a combined practice of image, song and narrative. Researchers link Paitkar to older pata or patua scroll
Paitkar Scrolls of Jharkhand: Chitrakar Painters of Epics Read More »
Rogan painting survives today in and around Nirona village in Kutch, Gujarat, where members of the Khatri family continue to practice the technique.Artisans trace the form to Persian roots and explain that the word “rogan” comes from a Persian term for oil or varnish, which reflects the castor oil base of the paint. Historical records
Rogan Art of Kutch: An Ancient Textile Painting Tradition Read More »
The Bhil rank among the largest tribal communities in India and live across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.Many Bhil narratives trace ancestry to the archer Eklavya from the Mahabharata and to Valmiki, associated with the Ramayana, although these links remain part of oral tradition rather than formal history. Agriculture and forest‑based livelihoods strongly shape
Bhil Tribal Art: Dots, Stories and Shifting Surfaces Read More »
The Saura or Saora people live mainly in southern Odisha and count among India’s oldest tribal communities. Epic references in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, along with anthropological research, highlight the deep historical roots of this group. Because the Saura language developed without a widely used script, wall painting carries special importance as a record of
Saura Tribal Art : Visual Imagery of a Scriptless Community Read More »
Madhubani, also known as Mithila painting, originates in the Mithila region of northern Bihar and adjacent parts of Nepal, particularly around villages such as Ranti and Jitwarpur. Women in these communities historically painted walls and floors during weddings, festivals and religious ceremonies, especially the kohbar or nuptial chamber. These murals depicted gods, fertility symbols and
Madhubani or Mithila Painting of Bihar: Origins to the Present Read More »