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Know more about
International Conference on Rock Art 2012
(6 - 13 December, 2012)
| MOBILE EXHIBITION |
VARANASI - 5th to 28th March 2013 at
Bharat Kala Bhawan, BHU, Varanasi
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| MOBILE EXHIBITION |
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GUWAHATI - 12th April to 3rd May 2013 at Art
Gallery, SSK, Guwahati
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| MOBILE EXHIBITION |
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BHUVANESHWAR, ODISHA -
from 18th May 23rd June, State Museum Odisha
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The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) has
conceived a major academic programme, which relates to exploring artistic
manifestations emanating from man's primary sense perceptions. Amongst the
senses that lead to aesthetic experience are vision (Drishya) and
hearing (Shravya). The rock art forms a crucial component of the Adi
Drishya programme. Its conceptual plan aims to open the doors to the
realisation that rock art is pure and absolute and hence capable of
dispensing great experience beyond its original culture and time.
The IGNCA's concern with prehistoric rock
art is neither restricted to the Archaeologists, and the prehistorians'
concern with establishing a linear chronological order of prehistoric rock
art, nor is it restricted to the identification of style and school as
criterion for establishing chronology. Instead, it is a concern for man's
creativity across time and space and civilisations and cultures through the
perception of the sight. At the
moment, there is not much available in India by way of interpretive
treatment of prehistoric art. To decipher rock art, mainly three methods,
i.e. archaeological, psycho-analytical and ethnographical, are being
followed. In the countries where there is no continuity of such traditions
due to industrialisation, etc. the psycho-analytical and archaeological
approaches are being mainly adopted. The recent concern for exploring new
ways and means for rock art research and for deciphering rock art has opened
a new chapter in the history of research in prehistoric and tribal art.
The present project has been conceived with a difference
giving special attention to a new kind of inter-disciplinary research
involving allied disciplines like Anthropology, Geology, Art History etc.,
which can open new horizons to the study of rock art. Briefly, the goal to
be set is not merely the development of a database and a multimedia gallery
but also to establish Adi Drishya into a school of thought and
research on alternate means of understanding prehistoric art.
AIM OF THE PROJECT
Documenting rock art sites,
its environment and communities living around these sites; Discussing the extant
theories of rock art and the intrinsic value of paleo-art as the cultural
heritage of humanity and not merely the cultural property of a particular
nation where it is found; Examining concrete cases for
the conservation, preservation and management of rock art caves and
shelters; Identifying the common
conservation hazards and interventionist practices; Evolving strategies of rock
art site management, conservation and computerised documentation; Enriching children, common
people and serious scholars.
AGENDA OF THE ROCK ART PROJECT
To make textual, contextual video
and photo documentation; To communicate with people in the
hinterland for archaeological research, and to build up a biocultural map,
a mental and ecological atlas of the rock art landscape, on the basis of
documentation of related folklore and natural and manmade features; To make inventory of rock art sites; To make suggestions for structural,
ecological, and, in rare cases, direct conservation, preferably using
local materials and techniques; To develop a digital archive of
videos, photo and other electronic data; To make documentaries on the basis
of the video documentations in the field; To organise Exhibitions (Permanent,
Mobile, Temporary); To bring out publications, both in
print and electronic media;. To prepare a Conservation Manuel for
rock art sites.
ACHIEVEMENTS TILL 2013
In North and Central India, the
documentation work has been initiated in the states of Uttarakhand and
Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. In Eastern
India, the work has been completed in the state of Orissa. In Western and
Southern India, the work has been initiated in the state of Rajasthan,
Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. Up till now a huge database of
Photographs, Audio-Videos, slides, line drawings and GPS data has been
compiled.
Under IGNCA Rock Art Publication
Series, so far, ten volumes have been published (these are Deer in Rock
Art in the Old World edited by Michael Lorblanchet (1990); Rock Art
of India and Europe by Giacamo Camuri, Angelo Fossati and Yasodhar
Mathpal (1993); Rock Art in Kumaon Himalaya by Yashodhar Mathpal
(1995); Rock Art in Kerala by Yashodhar Mathpal (1998);
Conservation of Rock Art by Bansi Lal Malla (1999); Global Rock Art
edited by B.L. Malla and V.H. Sonawane (2012); Rock Art of Andhra
Pradesh: A New Synthesis By N. Chandramouli General Editor B.L. Malla
(2012); The World of Rock Art: An Overview of Five Continents
edited by B.L. Malla (2012); Rock Art: A Catalogue (Exhibition on Rock
Art, 2012) edited by S.S. Biswas; Understanding Rock Art in Context
(Brochure of International Conference on Rock Art 2012) edited by B. L.
Malla). A CD and 3 DVDs based on IGNCA field documentation (these are Rock
Art of Jharkhand; Rock Art of Ladakh (J&K) and Pan Indian Rock Art) have
also been released.
Two international conferences (1993 &
2012) and three national seminars (1991, 1996 & 2004) have been conducted
on the subject. The International Conference of Rock Art on 2012 was
conceived with special attention to the inter-disciplinary research
involving allied disciplines like anthropology, geology, art history etc.,
that can open new horizons to the study of Rock Art. The deliberations in
the conference sessions were around the themes: Concept and Methodology;
Forms Content Context; Interpreting Rock Art; Documentation and
Conservation.
A special lecture series on World Rock
Art was conducted in 2012 which emphasised on the global scenario of the
rock art and provided an overall status of rock art research in different
continents of the world with rock art concentration. These lectures were
delivered by internationally renowned scholars in the field of rock art
like Prof. Emanual Anati, Prof. V.H. Sonawane, Prof. R.G. Bednarik, Prof.
Lowrance Leondrof and Dr. K. K. Chakravorty.
Review Meeting of the State
Coordinators and Multidisciplinary Team Members of IGNCA Rock Art Project
held on - 5th and 6th March, 2009 in IGNCA.
Two exhibitions on rock art: 1. 'Deer
in Rock Art of India and Europe' was held in 1993; 2. World Rock Art
Exhibition in 2012. The recent exhibition not only tried to address the
chronology/periodisation of rock art, but also to highlighted the regional
variations in rock art depictions. The main focus of the exhibition was on
the social patterns and lifestyle of the Early Man. The exhibition had two
separate divisions, one on rock art of India and the other was on the rock
art of the world. The Indian rock art section showcasing the rock art
heritage of India was mainly based on the documentation and acquisition of
IGNCA.
A workshop on the Rock Art was also
held in 2012. The Rock Art scholars and Community Artists from Saura (Odisha),
Warli (Maharashtra) and Rathwa (Gujarat) tribes, demonstrated replication
of Rock Art in the workshop to create general awareness and to show the
continuity of the artistic traditions in Indian context. The techniques
and tools used for making engravings and the materials used for paintings
were also demonstrated. The children/students were allowed to have first
hand experience of the prehistoric tools. They were encouraged to draw and
paint this art form in the workshop.
Mobile exhibitions and special lectures
are be organised in different parts of the country in 2013-14. First such
exhibition & special lectures were organised in Varanasi from 5th – 28th
March, 2013 and presently it is on display in Guwahati (12 April- 3rd May,
2013). From Guwahati it would be taken to Bhuneshwar and other cities of
India.
Archaeological
Reports and Digital Images - Rock Art Sites in Districts of Orissa
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| WATCH VIDEO CLIPS
- Rock Art of |
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Multimedia CD-ROM Project on
Rock
Art
Download Brochure
Image Collection
Publication
Series
A REVIEW MEETING OF THE STATE COORDINATORS AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM MEMBERS OF THE IGNCA ROCK ART PROJECT ON SURVEY, DOCUMENTATION AND STUDY OF ROCK ART AND ITS ALLIED SUBJECTS
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