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Bastar at its best
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From Bastar are the highlights of a show
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METAL MAGIC Sonadhar with his creations PHOTO: M. KARUNAKARAN
The frame of the bed has miniature figures of men and women dancing. They are celebrating `Ghotul', a traditional ceremony in Bastar, Chhatisgarh. The bed made of wood and bell metal is priced at Rs. 15,000. The exhibition, organised by Sunny Sistems, features the works of Sonadhar Poyan Vishwakarma from Bastar and reflects life in the village. On display are several pieces of furniture and other artefacts.
The `Raja-Rani' set of garden chairs (priced at Rs.3,000) has figurines of a king and a queen on the head rests because, "earlier, only kings and queens used to sit on a chair." Each piece is handcrafted with an eye for detail.
Sonadhar learnt the traditional two-dimensional iron craft of Bastar from his father. Later, he added a third dimension to the form and, in 1987, bagged the President's award. Horses were once made with two legs (one in the front and one at the back, a minimalist portrayal) and placed in the fields. They were worshipped as `rav dev', protector of the fields. But things have changed now. "Today, if they are to be sold as showpieces, they must be placed on tables and, therefore, need four legs," says Sonadhar.
While modifying the craft to make it utilitarian, he has not compromised on craftsmanship. A clothes hanger (Rs. 10,500), with a rod held by figures of a man and woman, is "unique" said a designer who was at the exhibition. In this piece, Sonadhar combines Dogri (of West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Bastar) with iron craft. "They are beautiful," says Regina a sociologist from Germany. "Most pieces are dynamic and loose. They show the harmony between man and Nature," she says. At the exhibition, you can also pick kund lamps, pencil holders in bamboo and other artefacts. The prices range between Rs. 75 (figurines of animals and musicians in bell metal) and Rs. 20,000 (a gateway made of bell metal). Sonadhar, who was Panchayat head for 17 years, has also won the Ambedkar Award for social service, the Kalanidhi Award twice and the Kalashree Award.
The exhibition is on till March 2 at 58, Second Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar.
ASHA MENON
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