Godna Painting attracts art lovers at Chhattisgarh pavilion
Raipur 23 November 2011
A stall in Chhattisgarh pavilion at 31st India International Trade Fair in New Delhi is cashing in on the tattoo craze among the urban youth. Domestic and international visitors entering the pavilion are attracted towards the stall where two tribal women are showcasing ‘Godna art’ on fabrics.
“We are getting a good response at the mela. Visitors, especially the youth, are buying our products. Godna paintings printed on silk and cotton cloths are in huge demand among the youths. Till now, we have sold items worth Rs 40,000” Ramkeli Pawle, a Godna artist from Jamgala village in Sarguja district of Chhattisgarh says.
Godna (Tattoos) are the post modern way of beautifying anyone's body. Now, the artists have taken tribal tattoo motifs and have started painting them on fabric with natural dyes and acrylic.
“We are into this (art) work for generations. My mother used to paint tattoos on bodies but over a period of time we started experimenting on fabric, canvas and papers,” says another artist, Sunita Pawle.
A wide range of items such as saree, dupatta, shawl, wall paper and kurtis are demonstrated at the stall. “We prepare the colours at home. These are all natural colours made up of flowers, leaves and a special kind of oil. You can wash the clothes at home and the colour will remain intact,” says Sunita, who was herself wearing a saree with ‘Godna art’ on it.
“I bought a dupatta from the stall. It is a unique piece of work and I really liked the tribal tattoo motifs that are beautifully painted on the dupatta,” 25-year-old Dahlia Anderson from Sweden says.
“Last year, I bought a Kosa shawl with embroidery from the pavilion and wanted to buy another piece this year but it was not available. I found the Godna art so interesting that I purchased a plain shawl and got it painted from the artists here,” says another visitor, Ritu Agrawal, who paid Rs 800 to the artists for the work.
“We are getting a good response at the mela. Visitors, especially the youth, are buying our products. Godna paintings printed on silk and cotton cloths are in huge demand among the youths. Till now, we have sold items worth Rs 40,000” Ramkeli Pawle, a Godna artist from Jamgala village in Sarguja district of Chhattisgarh says.
Godna (Tattoos) are the post modern way of beautifying anyone's body. Now, the artists have taken tribal tattoo motifs and have started painting them on fabric with natural dyes and acrylic.
“We are into this (art) work for generations. My mother used to paint tattoos on bodies but over a period of time we started experimenting on fabric, canvas and papers,” says another artist, Sunita Pawle.
A wide range of items such as saree, dupatta, shawl, wall paper and kurtis are demonstrated at the stall. “We prepare the colours at home. These are all natural colours made up of flowers, leaves and a special kind of oil. You can wash the clothes at home and the colour will remain intact,” says Sunita, who was herself wearing a saree with ‘Godna art’ on it.
“I bought a dupatta from the stall. It is a unique piece of work and I really liked the tribal tattoo motifs that are beautifully painted on the dupatta,” 25-year-old Dahlia Anderson from Sweden says.
“Last year, I bought a Kosa shawl with embroidery from the pavilion and wanted to buy another piece this year but it was not available. I found the Godna art so interesting that I purchased a plain shawl and got it painted from the artists here,” says another visitor, Ritu Agrawal, who paid Rs 800 to the artists for the work.
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