“Bastar art” describes the traditional artistic expressions used by the tribal people of Chhattisgarh, India’s Bastar region. This area is renowned for its distinctive artistic traditions and rich cultural legacy that have been passed down through the ages. The Bastar tribal groups use an ancient metal casting method called Dhokra. It produces elaborate and minutely detailed metal sculptures using the lost-wax casting process. These sculptures frequently show animals, tribal deities, and typical scenes from tribal life.
The vivid and colourful paintings created by the Bastar tribal artisans are also well-known. Themes from mythology, nature, and tribal life are frequently found in these paintings. For these paintings, artists employ organic materials and natural elements like leaves and colours taken from minerals. In Bastar, wood carving is another essential kind of art. Tribal artists use wood to sculpt elaborate patterns and designs that are then used to make masks, sculptures, and other decorative objects. Often, these sculptures feature symbols and themes from the tribe.
In Bastar, terracotta sculptures and pottery are also familiar. Tribal artists make ceramics, figures, and decorative objects from locally obtained clay. These clay pieces frequently have traditional tribal patterns and decorations on them. Bastar art is visually pleasing and captures the unique cultural character and customs of the local tribal people. It is essential to maintain and advance Bastar’s rich cultural legacy.
Dhokra/Bell Metal Craft
The Bastar district’s tribal people use Dhokra art casting, one of the oldest and most well-known methods of casting metal. A foundry prepares mixed metals like copper, zinc, and tin to make idols, jewellery, utensils, decorative items, and other valuable products. The method for creating these artefacts is called the “Lost Wax Technique” since wax from the beehives is also utilized. The Ghadwa tribe is the one that engages in making these crafts the most.
Bell Metal (The Process)
It’s a technique for casting non-ferrous metals that creates complex and unique artwork. A mould is made using a wax figure using the Dhokra craft technique. The clay is applied, and then the wax figure is let to dry. After being generously covered in fine clay made from termite bills and heated to dry, the wax is melted through a small opening. Melted metal is poured into the vacuum between the clay layer and the core and allowed to cool and harden.
Since modern machinery is not utilized, the Bell metal Dhokra craft is a unique metal casting. The three most critical handcrafted tools used in the process are the tools, the mould, and the furnace. Because of this, the craft is highly sustainable and ecologically friendly. The next part is much anticipated since that’s when the outer clay mould is cracked open to show off the finished sculpture’s beauty. Simple as this method is, it nevertheless demands tremendous skill and precision. The finished Dhokra crafts include lamps, big pots, little figures, and other household items. Each piece is unique since it is handmade and meticulously completed by hand.
Wrought Iron Art
This art form came from the ironsmith community, who, in the past, made farming and hunting implements for the local tribes. The rich ore mines of Cherangdungri provide an occasional source of raw materials for this craft. Still, recycled scrap iron is the primary source due to the ethnic people’s natural regard for the environment. The wrought iron technique is made feasible by the remarkable bond tribal artists have with nature, and rich mines in the Chirangdongri region supply the raw materials. Using a hammer and tongs, delicately shape the metal into a basic form after it has been pounded in a furnace. The fact that the items have no joints shows that the craftsman has mastery over the material.
Wooden Art
This wooden carving technique is among the most well-known, exquisite, and distinctive among the Bastar tribe. The best teak and white wood are used to make these wooden crafts. Surrounding much of the state’s land area are magnificent forests in Chhattisgarh. The tribal community uses this wood to craft exquisite models, idols, wall panels, furniture pieces, and other artwork. The wood is used to create various functional and ornamental objects, each with a specific significance in the local handicrafts. They started using wood for carpentry and object carving over time, which led to the formation of the Badais, a group of experts in this trade. Then, the badass split off into two groups: one made totemic and decorative pillars, and the other made agricultural equipment.
Terracotta Art
The Kumhara people in Chhattisgarh practice the Terracotta Art form. Bastar has long been the home of this art form; in the past, its use was limited to crafting utensils, which required better maintenance. In the past, idols and other designs were the domain of a select few artists. However, the artisans went on to produce objects that reflected their religious and cultural traditions, which were significantly in demand. Potters use black and red clay to create terracotta goods. Every region in Bastar has a unique design that sets it apart. It is well known that Makri created idols of gods and goddesses, Ekda created statues of lions and elephants, and Nagarnar created designs of horses and bulls.
Other Crafts
Bamboo crafts are deeply ingrained in the customs of the three Bastar ethnic groups. Bamboo and cane create many lovely eco-friendly goods, including dustbins, mats, fruit and vegetable baskets, mugs, flower vases, and tea trays. One of the well-known and lovely handicrafts produced by the Bastar tribal people is cotton fabric. These are hand woven and hand printed by tribes deriving their ancestry from the weaver-saint-poet Kabir in the fourteenth century, using Kosa thread, derived from a type of worm found in the forest.
The faiths and rituals of the tribal artists of Bastar have a profound effect on their creations. Customers are drawn to these incredible tribal art products, and some are willing to pay more for them because of their fantastic quality. Ancient histories and civilizations, like the Harapan civilization, are portrayed in Bastar art. By incorporating them into our ideas, we can give their work a new identity in the interior field. Local myths and actual events are the main subjects of the artwork created by the Bastar artists.
Feature image: gochhattisgarh.in
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