India’s West Bengal government’s initiative Biswa Bangla in collaboration with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and London’s Nehru Centre recently showcased the exhibition titled ‘Gods & Demons’. The exhibition attracted members of the British-Indian community as well as a mix of international craft patrons and a diverse audience from the art world. The ‘Gods & Demons’ exhibition focused on the making and rich history of the Masks of Bengal and the visual storytelling form of Patachitra. Although used originally as ways of spreading ancient mythology, the integration of modern social themes and issues in the artwork makes Patachitra and mask making inspiring tools for today’s artists.
The Mukhosh (mask) making is an ancient craft form that dates back centuries. Although a craft shared throughout Bengal, the masks are fiercely individual. Each region utilises different techniques to create their individual Mukhosh, and the materials used are just as diverse as the state of Bengal, with bamboo, wood, clay, paper and metal all part of the process of creation. Where as Patachitra is a visual storytelling form that takes the form of painted scrolls, depicting sequential scenes from stories, legends and myths. The stories of the scrolls are brought to life by singing scroll painters, known as Patuas. Originally they travelled from village to village, singing their stories whilst unravelling and painting the scrolls, illustrating the stories and bringing them to life in another visual dimension.
Speaking about the initiative, Neishaa Gharat, ambassador for Biswa Bangla in the UK says,
“As a designer, I am passionate about the future of making in a globalised world. We have only begun to scratch the surface of the potential of collaborating traditional skills with modern perception, and cross cultural engagement. My role at Biswa Bangla is this fascinating journey of discovery and reinterpretation of traditional craft skills by engaging with both designers and enthusiasts.”
Artist Shankar Das who participated in the exhibition is a leading mask maker from Sabdalpur, a village in the Dakshin Dainajpur district of West Bengal. The talent of Das’ artistry is illustrated by the presentation of a State Award for his work. Das plays a leading role in managing a collective of mask makers at Kushmundi and participates in fairs all over India.
Shankar transformed a single block of wood into a beautifully formed depiction of the Goddess Durga, while Suman Chitrakar performed traditional songs. The artisans were also photographed against the backdrop of the Southbank Centre on the banks of the Thames in London as they carved and painted their work.
Biswa Bangla, which means ‘Where the world meets Bengal’, is a government initiative of one of the most culturally diverse states in India, West Bengal. Biswa Bangla, through its partners and networks, impacts over 10,000 artisans, craftspeople and weavers. It encourages innovation, provides design assistance and improves quality and supply chains for the handloom and handicraft products of the state. With craftsmanship they want to share the energy and creativity of the people.
“Biswa Bangla believes that there is a keen appreciation for Bengal arts and crafts in the modern global community and the collaboration between London and West Bengal can really help make a difference for the lives of artisans,” Neishaa concludes.
After its tour of London, Biswa Bangla will take the exhibition to Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland. The Edinburgh Museum will host live demonstrations and workshops for the team before they move on to the Southside Fringe Festival in Glasgow, hosted by Art Village.
To keep the beautiful spirit of the London exhibition alive we have created a visual archive of the exhibits so that you can relive the beauty of the arts and crafts. Also experience our eclectic opening reception evening in London.