A bridge to the past



Art is a medium of expression, it is the making or doing of something to derive or provide pleasure. Art is a skill which is either transmitted across generations or developed at specific points in time. Every period in history has a specific form of art that characterizes it and gives it an identity. In India, art has been closely connected to culture and emotion. In a country where culture is distinctly different every few kilometers, India is the home for innumerable art forms in various mediums such as fine art, dance, music, drama and many others. The deeply rooted traditions in the cultural system provides a strong base for the sustenance and transmission of artistic skills.

Traditionally, art forms were concentrated in specific communities and it became their profession and responsibility to continue the family craft. The art that is transmitted carries along with it the memories, hard work and emotion attached to it. The skill that is passed on carries cultural baggage because it reflects an entire way of life. Traditional art is not a constant. It continually adapts to the contemporary society. The early art forms depicting ancient folklore are still present in modern world. In fact, established art forms are molding themselves to accommodate novel perspectives and themes. A drama before used to be of the Ramayana but a drama now is the story of Ramayana through the eyes of different characters.

Art therefore offers an unprecedented view of the past. The records of history ranging from the lives of gods and kings to the daily lives of the laboring class have gradually grown to adapt modern themes while maintaining the traditional form and structure of art. The evolution of art forms offers an engrossing insight into the past. A lot of the knowledge that is currently available about the cultural heritage of India is from the age old carvings, inscriptions, paintings and folklore that have survived the ravages of time. These precious pieces of information are not documented in manuscripts or inscriptions. They survive as sensory memories, appealing to the visual, auditory, kinesthetic and other senses. The air of nostalgia about an art piece is heavy with love, reverence and dedication to the skill for several generations.


The cultural past that is reflected through art is not restricted to the events in time that it documents or the stories that it portrays. It goes much beyond that to reveal the culture of its maker, the artist. The legacy that is upheld by families and the integral part that the skill plays in their culture is of significance as much as the content of the art work is. The legends, mores and tales that art carries with it is exceptional. The culture of today is strongly influenced by the culture of the past. Art plays the necessary role of a bridge linking the ancient belief systems with the contemporary thought processes.


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