Theos-Talk Archives (November 1997 Message tt00242)

> Sophia wrote:

> I would like to look at or recollect seeing the "'alipna'of rural
> India," but I do not know what it is. Kindly tell me,


Dear Sophia,

"Alipana" is a name given to a type of traditional ritual folk art
practiced in (mostly) rural Northern India as temporary wall or floor
drawings. Mainly done for the home, in colored chalks or pastes and
largely practiced by women during times of festivals, ceremonies and
holidays. It is considered invocative of blessings from any of several
deities and is an interesting form of decorative folk mandala.

Ajit Mookerjee has written two very good books that speak about it. I
believe, (if memory serves) that they are titled "The Art of Tantra" and
"Yogic Art." I have also seen a more recently published book, (a nice
big colorful coffee table book) that features another, very similar
Indian folk art tradition. It was beautiful. I'll try to find the exact
information about it.

"Alipana" was Mookerjee's term for it. Maybe you know it by another
name?

Mark
--------
WITHOUT WALLS: An Internet Art Space
http://www.withoutwalls.com