The traditional Poubha art still breathes at a small double-storied old house amidst the crowded streets of Patan Doka. And Lok Chitrakar’s hands are those that keep the dying art alive.

The Poubha paintings date back to the 4 th century but were faced with a threat during the 17 th century towards the end of Malla’s era with the drying up patronage and consequent weakening of community structures in the valleys.

Meanwhile, the art form was carried to Tibet. It was there the Thangka took birth from the Poubha style.

The Thangka has gained immense popularity worldwide with its linkage to Buddhism but today’s generation mostly unaware of Poubha paintings, said Lok Chitrakar.

The Poubha genre developed as a unique heritage of the Newars and is a visual interpretation of the Buddhist and Hindu philosophies as practiced in the Vajrayan tradition.

As per the ritual for painting, the artist must seclude himself from the materialistic world and must be pious and holy. The Poubha is created on a cotton cloth across a wooden frame. Water based colors grounded by hand from stones from the Himalayas, sable-hair brushes; gold and silver dusts are some of the tools used in the paintings.

Text by: Kuenzang Choden, (Journalist: Buthan) | Made for the Panos South Asia Multimedia Local Content Development Training Workshop 2008, Kathmandu. View the full multimedia presentation
To learn more: Panos Multimedia

Share on Facebook

Artists Milan Khanolkar and Priya Kamat spent 6 days working on the walls of a day-care center at the Goa University. The duo worked their way up, from ground to the ceiling, bringing the blank concrete to life with colour and facinating characters. This, they tell me, was a labour of love.

The friends work together on murals, pottery and various art forms. “We get along well together as friends and that shows in our joint work.”

Find out how this two women worked together to transform the walls of this center, ready to excite and inspire the little ones who’s little feet will patter about in its halls.

Music by panu moon (http://ccmixter.org/people/panumoon). And, for background info on this post, visit my blog: http://dabblinginmultimedia.blogspot.com

Share on Facebook

On a dry Sunday afternoon, a group of 36 children gathered together at the Shanti Niketan school in Assagao and, guided by artist, Devi Prasad Rao, sought to explore their inner artistic selves.

That these kids came from Homes for destitute and street children could have easily been overlooked by a casual observer.

Working on abstract themes, these children produced works that could send art school students surrying for cover.

In the words of Dev, “Creativity has no favourites. All it requires is plain child-like innocence.”

Share on Facebook