Reviving the dying art of miniature painting in Rajasthan

By Ranjit Monga*

Jaipur: Even though it is considered a dying art, there still is much interest in miniature painting. This growing interest in this art form was reflected when 140 participants including four participants from overseas as well, sent in their entries during the 8-day online ‘National Contemporary Miniature Painting Workshop’ organised by Kalavritt, (which means ‘art circle’), – a city-based organisation working for the development of traditional art and artists of Rajasthan and all other states of the country, last month. Compare this with just 12 entries last year! Perhaps organising it online during the pandemic time helped this workshop reach out to more people and proved to be a blessing in disguise! Besides India, there were four participants from overseas as well.

Kalavritt was founded by the doyen of miniature painting in Rajasthan Kalaguru Dr Mahendra Kumar Sharma ‘Sumahendra’, along with ten other young students of the Rajasthan School of Art in 1970. Now his son Sundeep Sumahendra is the chairman of the organisation. “It first started out as a creative youth forum but later it branched out into promoting art and artists who were not covered by the formal art organisations,” said Sundeep. He is now carrying on the work started by his father by organising annual camps for artists and fostering interest in traditional arts.,

There are many schools of this beautiful art form throughout India, with 28 originating from Rajasthan itself. The efforts of Kalavritt to engage them are paying off. Says Rajneesh Harsh, Secretary of Rajasthan chapter of Lalit Kala Akademi,  “Kalavritt’s annual workshop has proven to be a ‘Sanjeevni’ for miniature painting in India as it has infused new life into this art form.”  The Akademi supports the annual workshops, he said.

This year the participants included famous painters, aficionados, students and academicians. “The aim is to encourage people from all walks of life to participate so that these traditions can be popularised and preserved,” Sundeep said.

The brief given to the artists this year was to submit ‘contemporary painting using traditional technique and skills’. The jury comprised of eminent artists Dr Shail Choyal, Prof Bhawani Shankar Sharma and RB Gautam.

This year’s winners, whose names were announced on December 5, were Yukti Sharma of Bundi (Rajasthan), Kanu Patel of Gujarat, Suman Joshi of Banswara (Rajasthan), Tabassum Khan of Bhopal and Kishore Narkhadiwala of Gujarat.

While Yukti Sharma’s painting was in traditional Bundi style of miniature painting, Suman Joshi used the Mewar school technique. Tabassum Khan’s use of natural colours got her the recognition. Kanu Patel and Kishore Narkhadiwala also used typical traditional technique in their creations.

Following are the winning entries: