Explore the world of animals in the art of Jamini Roy
Dr. Baishali Ghosh
Curator, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
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The Academy of Fine Arts is a cultural organization that houses art galleries, an auditorium for performing art, a conference room, art classes, and an art museum with a priceless collection of exclusive objects of art, within one premise. Being located in the heart of the city, the museum and archives stand out as an extraordinary source of original records that delineate the history of the development of the first Art Gallery in Calcutta.
The Museum of the Academy of Fine Arts houses an outstanding collection of paintings and graphics by stalwart artists, miniature paintings, textiles, carpets, metal works, manuscripts, folk art objects, and others. There is a good collection of paintings by the artist Jamini Roy. Few of his paintings with interesting and unique animal figures are selected for this program.
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” — Albert Einstein, scientist
Whether you like animated animals or the real, this program will educate, entertain, and inspire you to get curious about the animals through the art of Jamini Roy. Gradually, you will dive into its artistry, which will help develop critical thinking skills, a passion for art and culture, and encourage creativity.….
Target audience:
Families with children of all ages and abilities are welcome.
Recommended for children of ages 5–15 years.
Perfect for budding artists, with oodles of imagination and those who are yet to discover their creative powers.
Subjects to be covered
About the artist Jamini Roy,
His style of art and the resemblance of his art form with the traditional pata painting,
How to easily draw the figures following his style of art,
Some mythological stories associated with the characters in his painting.
Participatory activities
Through this program, you will explore the world of animals through the genre of art of the famous artist, Jamini Roy. You will have fun involving in the participatory activities and in this process, you can learn about him, his style of art, and can develop a passion for art.
For kids 5 years and above
Sing and clap with the song......
Video credit: Lakdi Ki Kathi Kathi Pe Ghoda, May 15 2019, Fun For Kids TV Hindi https://www.youtube.com/HB5pPJakam8
Hope you all love to ride on such a rocking wooden horse?
Enjoy the nursery rhyme .....
Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross, To see a fine lady upon a white horse; Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, And she shall have music wherever she goes.
Video credit: Ride A Cock Horse To Banbury Cross, Nursery Rhymes, Happy Kids, MollyShow, Dec 30 2019, https://www.youtube.com/LZfuuGajG9A
Jamini Roy is a famous artist from Bengal who developed his own unique style of painting.
He painted scenes of everyday life in villages. He loved to paint the tribals of Bengal, the Santhals. The Dancing Santhals, Santhals, Mother and child, Santhal Boy with Drum are some of the famous paintings he made. He painted animals like cats, horses, cows, elephants in his own style.
He was honored with Padma Bhushan in 1955. His works can be found in various museums and galleries across the globe.
Watch: How to easily draw Jamini Roy's painting
Video credit: Jamini Roy painting#5, how to draw easily, Rong Berong Art Gallery, Jul 22, 2020,https://youtube/ZEnEg-tKOhg
Try to draw in his style
For teenagers
Enjoy watching this beautiful superhit song
Video credit: Lakdi Ki Kaathi With Lyrics | Masoom (1983) | लकड़ी की काठी | Children's Day Special| Shemaroo Filmi Gaane| Nov 14 2019|https://youtube/epW3Sbg3GRg
The song 'Lakdi Ki Kaathi' is a song from the 1983 movie 'Masoom' starring Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Tanuja, Urmila Matondkar and Jugal Hansraj.
Singer: Gauri Bapat, Gurpreet Kaur, Vanita Mishra Music Director: R D Burman Lyricist: Gulzar Director: Shekhar Kapoor
Childhood is the golden period of one's life. It is the time when one loves to stay in the mystic world. One loves to play, read, sing, dance, draw, and create one's own world of imagination.
Hope you remember riding on such a rocking wooden horse?
HORSES are one of the first objects of fine art, depicted in cave paintings, and used in numerous sculptures. It is a very favorite subject of drawing for artists. They are associated with speed, courage, power, and freedom.
Have you tried to draw a horse?
Obviously...the answer will be "YES"
The four pictures given below are a few of the ways you might have tried......
But have you ever tried this style?
"Yes.....this is the unique art style of the famous Indian Artist Jamini Roy"
ACTIVITY I
Color the picture and enjoy his style of art:
ACTIVITY II
Join the Dots to complete the picture and color it
ACTIVITY III
Spot the differences between the two pictures
Write the differences:
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
ACTIVITY IV
Puzzle Games: Place the pieces in the right places to form the picture
Listen to the audio with the slideshow to know about the artist Jamini Roy
Audio by Author
Jamini Roy is a famous artist from Bengal who developed his own unique style of painting.
Jamini Roy was born on April 11, 1887, in Beliatore village of Bankura district in West Bengal.
He gained knowledge of painting at the Government college of arts in Kolkata.
He was one of the most famous pupils of Abanindranath Tagore.
He was honored with Padma Bhushan in 1955, Viceroy's gold medal (1934) and Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi (1955).
He was most influenced by the Kalighat Pat (Kalighat painting), which was a style of art with bold sweeping brush-strokes.
He changed style from his academic Western training and featured a new style based on Bengali folk traditions.
Roy is also described as an art machine because he produced 20,000 paintings in his lifetime which is about 10 paintings daily but made sure his artistic aims remained the same.
Jamini Roy died in 1972. His works can be found in various museums and galleries across the globe.
In 1976, the Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India declared his works among the "Nine Masters" whose work, to be henceforth considered "to be art treasures, having regard to their artistic and aesthetic value".
Know more about the life and art of Jamini Roy
Video Credit: Jamini Roy: Film - Portrait of a Painter | Ngma Mumbai| Jan 21, 2016 |
https://youtube/zgYSF4Ma7JQ
Art lesson for teenagers from Jamini Roy
Explore Bengal folk art. The shape of figures is different from other Indian folk art.
Learn to make bold portraits in focus. They are abstract yet expressive.
Color flat. Use bold brush strokes to make patterns.
Watch: How to easily draw Jamini Roy's painting
Video Credit: Jamini Roy: painting #5 | how to draw easily | Rong Berong Art Gallery| Jul 22, 2020 | https://youtube/ZEnEg-tKOhg
ACTIVITY V
LET YOUR IMAGINATION FLOW .....
Fill up the questionnaire and express your feelings by observing the painting:
Image Credit: Portrait of Goddess Manasa, https://images.app.goo.gl/vS8hNB7hmdyVnSVs9
The Bengal Patachitra refers to the painting of West Bengal. It is a traditional and mythological heritage of West Bengal. The Bengal Patachitra is divided into some different aspects like Durga Pat, Chalchitra, Tribal Patachitra, Medinipur Patachitra, and Kalighat Patachitra.
In West Bengal, Patachitra is mostly done in Birbhum, West Midnapore, Nayagram of Pingla block in Jhargram, Bardhaman, Murshidabad district, and Kalighat region.
The subject matter of Bengal Patachitra is mostly mythological, religious stories, folklore, and social. The Kalighat Patachitra, the last tradition of Bengal Patachitra is developed by Jamini Roy. The artist of the Bengal Patachitra is called Patua.
The Story of Kalighat Painting
Video Credit: Kalighat Painting | Chitrakatha | The Story Of Kalighat Paintings | Jun 22, 2019 | https://youtube/aZpX8unKJtw
ACTIVITY VI
Some mythological facts associated with the animals
Identify the animals in the paintings of Jamini Roy and name the deities with which they are associated with:
Listen to the audio and verify your answer with some mythological facts
Audio by Author
Jamini Roy paintings in handicrafts
Samples of Jamini Roy Paintings done by a teenager
Paintings drawn by a student of class VIII, trying to learn the art style of Jamini Roy
Try your own...
For Adults / Parents
Let's take a trip down memory lane and enjoy the beautiful superhit song
Video credit: Lakdi Ki Kaathi With Lyrics | Masoom (1983) | लकड़ी की काठी | Children's Day Special| Shemaroo Filmi Gaane| Nov 14 2019|https://youtube/epW3Sbg3GRg
The song 'Lakdi Ki Kaathi' is a song from the 1983 movie 'Masoom' starring Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Tanuja, Urmila Matondkar and Jugal Hansraj.
Singer: Gauri Bapat, Gurpreet Kaur, Vanita Mishra Music Director: R D Burman Lyricist: Gulzar Director: Shekhar Kapoor
Doesn't it remind you of the rocking wooden horse of your childhood days?
HORSES are one of the first objects of fine art, depicted in cave paintings, and used in numerous sculptures. It is a very favorite subject of drawing for artists. They are associated with speed, courage, power, and freedom.
Various artists have drawn in different ways. You too might have drawn a horse in your childhood or later.
The four pictures given below are a few of the ways you might have tried..
But have you ever tried this style?
"Yes.....this is the unique art style of the famous Indian Artist Jamini Roy"
ACTIVITY I
Color the picture and enjoy his style of art:
ACTIVITY II
Join the Dots to complete the picture
ACTIVITY III
Spot the differences between the two pictures
Write the differences:
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
ACTIVITY IV
Puzzle Games: Place the pieces in the right places to form the picture
Listen to the audio with the slideshow to know about the artist Jamini Roy
Audio by Author
Jamini Roy was born on April 11, 1887, in Beliatore village of Bankura district in West Bengal.
He gained knowledge of painting at the Government College of Arts in Kolkata.
Jamini was trained in the British academic style of painting in 1916.
He was one of the most famous pupils of Abanindranath Tagore.
He was honored with Padma Bhushan in 1955, Viceroy's gold medal (1934) and Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi (1955).
He was most influenced by the Kalighat Pat (Kalighat painting), which was a style of art with bold sweeping brush-strokes.
He changed style from his academic Western training and featured a new style based on Bengali folk traditions.
Roy is also described as an art machine because he produced 20,000 paintings in his lifetime which is about 10 paintings daily but made sure his artistic aims remained the same.
His underlying quest was threefold: to capture the essence of simplicity embodied in the life of the folk people; to make art accessible to a wider section of people, and to give Indian art its own identity.
He spent most of his life living and working in Calcutta. Initially, he experimented with Kalighat paintings but found that it has ceased to be strictly a "patua" and went to learn from village patuas. Consequently, his techniques, as well as subject matter, were influenced by the traditional art of Bengal. He preferred himself to be called a patua.
Jamini Roy died in 1972. His works can be found in various museums and galleries across the globe.
In 1976, the Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India declared his works among the "Nine Masters" whose work, to be henceforth considered "to be art treasures, having regard to their artistic and aesthetic value".
Know more about the life and art of Jamini Roy
Video Credit: Jamini Roy: Film - Portrait of a Painter | Ngma Mumbai| Jan 21, 2016 | https://youtube/zgYSF4Ma7JQ
Watch: How to easily draw Jamini Roy's painting
Video Credit: Jamini Roy: painting #5 | how to draw easily | Rong Berong Art Gallery| Jul 22, 2020 | https://youtube/ZEnEg-tKOhg
ACTIVITY V
LET YOUR IMAGINATION FLOW .....
Fill up the questionnaire and express your feelings by observing the painting:
Pata Painting (patachitra) is a traditional cloth-based scroll painting, based in the eastern Indian states of Odisha and West Bengal. Patachitra's art form is known for its intricate details as well as mythological narratives and folktales inscribed in it.
'Pata' is a Bangla word evolved from the Sanskrit patta meaning 'cloth' and 'chitra' meaning 'picture'. An artwork drawn on a piece of silk or cotton or any other fabric portraying traditional motifs of religion and society is called pat art.
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.
Patachitras is a component of an ancient Bengali narrative art, originally serving as a visual device during the performance of a song. As a folk art, it makes an important element of Bengal cultural heritage.
Sublime in the melody of Pata Song
Singer - Niranjan Chitrakar from East Medinipur Dist.
Audio Credit: Pater Gaan Krishna Rash Leela 2016, U D Entertainment, https://www.youtube.com/eACIC8rw9T8
Bengal Patachitra
Image Credit: Portrait of Goddess Manasa, https://images.app.goo.gl/vS8hNB7hmdyVnSVs9
The Bengal Patachitra refers to the painting of West Bengal. It is a traditional and mythological heritage of West Bengal. The Bengal Patachitra is divided into some different aspects like Durga Pat, Chalchitra, Tribal Patachitra, Medinipur Patachitra, and Kalighat Patachitra.
In West Bengal, Patachitra is mostly done in Birbhum, West Midnapore, Nayagram of Pingla block in Jhargram, Bardhaman, Murshidabad district, and Kalighat region.
The subject matter of Bengal Patachitra is mostly mythological, religious stories, folklore, and social. The Kalighat Patachitra, the last tradition of Bengal Patachitra is developed by Jamini Roy. The artist of the Bengal Patachitra is called Patua.
The Story of Kalighat Painting
Video Credit: Kalighat Painting | Chitrakatha | The Story Of Kalighat Paintings | Jun 22, 2019 | https://youtube/aZpX8unKJtw
ACTIVITY VI
Some mythological facts associated with the animals
Identify the animals in the paintings of Jamini Roy and name the deities with which they are associated with:
Listen to the audio and verify your answer with some mythological facts
Audio by Author
Jamini Roy paintings in handicrafts
Popularity of Jamini Roy's paintings
The collage below shows few paintings drawn in the art style of the artist Jamini Roy, on the boundary wall of Hotel Gallery 67 near Ultadanga in Kolkata, West Bengal.
FIND OUT MORE IN YOUR LOCALITY....
HOPE THE PARTICIPATORY ACTIVITIES HAVE GIVEN YOU ENJOYMENT AND INSPIRATION
Try your innovations and nourish your creativity
You can draw Jamini Roy’s paintings on decorative pieces like flower vases, greeting cards, prepare small models, and others. Children can take the assistance of their parents. If you wish, you can send us your creations.
Selected artworks will be displayed in the Annual Art Exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Provoke your imagination power and write a story or poem on these wonderful paintings and send us by email. The selected pieces will be published in the brochure of the Annual Exhibition of the Academy of Fine Arts.
Contact us: Academy of Fine Arts; 2, Cathedral Road, Kolkata – 700071; website: www.academyoffinearts.in; email: info@academyoffinearts.in
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Feedback Form:
Click on the picture to enjoy the slide show with music
I am grateful to the entire AIIS team, especially Dr. Vandana Sinha, Director & Ms. Stuti Gandhi, Associate Researcher, for their constant guidance and support throughout the workshop. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Academy of Fine Arts, for giving me permission to use the pictures of few paintings of Jamini Roy, from the museum collection, to develop the public program with an educational motto. I am thankful to Ms. Akansha Ghosh for helping me with the idea of the usage of different apps for photo, audio, and video editing.
I convey my special thanks to Dr. Madhuvanti Ghose, Alsdorf Associate Curator of Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art, Arts of Asia, The Art Institute of Chicago, for her encouraging support and resourceful curatorial advice.
Sources of information
Jamini Roy | Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Jamini_Roy
Jamini Roy Biography - Paintings & Artworks, Life History ...
www.culturalindia.net › indian-art › painters › jamini-roy
Jamini Roy | Artnet
www.artnet.com › artists › jamini-roy
Jamini Roy - Google arts & Culture
https://artsandculture.google.com › entity › jamini-roy
Jamini Roy - National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
https://ngmaindia.gov.in/sh - jamini -roy.asp
Pattachitra - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Pattachitra
Patachitra
www.bengalpatachitra.com
Paintings drawn by a student of class VIII, trying to learn the art style of Jamini Roy
