Traditions and

History in
South Asian
Arts
Victor Paul A. Sultan
 Learning Outcome
at the end of the lesson, the student should be able
to:
a. discuss correctly the different arts in South Asia specifically
in India.
What Country?
 Periods of Indian Art

Ancient Period (3900BCE-1200CE)

Evidence showed vigor and concern for surface texture
as constantly characterized in Indian art of the early
civilization like bronze and copper statuettes and
steatite seals.
 the Ajanta
Caves
The Ajanta Caves of Maharashtra, India are 30rock-
cutcave monuments that date back from the 2nd century
BCE to the 600 CE, including paintings and sculptures
considered to be the masterpieces of Buddhist religious art,
as well as frescos that are reminiscent of the Sigiriya
paintings in Sri Lanka.
The Ajanta Caves
 Indian
Crepe
A soft, light fabric with a
distinctively crisp and crimped
appearance, crepe fabrics can
be of various constructions,
weaves, textures and weights,
depending on weaving
variations or fabric treatment.
Indian Crepe
 Indian
Crepe
In India, crepe is used for
making various garments like
sarees, salwars and kurtas and
is
also widely used for leheriya
dyeing and zardozi embroidery
Sarees Salwars Kurtas
 Diwali
Diwali is the Hindu New Year and is either a 3-day or
come from. It is a
d
ve ryholiday depending on where you
ay
exciting and colourful holiday, where homes are cleaned to
welcome the New Year and windows are opened so that
the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, can enter. Hindus
believed that she cannot enter a house which is not lit up, so
every household burns special Diwali clay lamps (diyas) to
light the way for the goddess, which is why the holiday is
also known as the 'Festival of Lights'.
Diwali
 Rangoli

One of the most beautiful and most pleasing art forms of

India is Rangoli. It is consist of of two words :"rang"
meaning color; and "aavalli" meaning ' colored creepers'
rt of making designs
orr 'row of colors'. Rangoli is the a
o
patterns on the walls or the floor of the house, uses finely
ground white powder along with different colors.
 Rangoli
Rangoli designs can be simple geometric shapes, deity
impressions, or flower and petal shapes, but they can also
bec om very elaborate designs crafted by
eus
numero
people. The base material is usually dry or wet granulated
rice or dry flour, to which sindoor, haldi, and other natural
colors can be added. The purpose of rangoli is decoration,
and it is thought to bring good luck.
Rangoli
Do you have any questions?