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Artist Meenu Goyal has been training young and adult minds the skill of being peaceful and patient, and she does this through art. One art form she utilises is Madhubani, which captures the essence of culture and history. It was when she was studying textile designing and fashion designing in Delhi that she came across Madhubani art.
“It was a part of the curriculum. We had to study a variety of art forms from different states and Madhubani captured my interest. When I started doing Madhubani art, I realised that I would be seated for hours. It was therapeutic,” she says as she displays some of her works on her phone.
It’s not just Madhubani art that took Meenu’s fancy. For, she has tried a variety of art forms – from resin art and clay murals to decoupage and pottery. Yet, it was the mesmerising world of Madhubani art, with its complex designs and bold colours, which ignited Meenu’s true passion.
We had to study a variety of art forms from different states and Madhubani captured my interest. When I started doing Madhubani art, I realised that I would be seated for hours. It was therapeutic.
Meenu Gyal, artist
Providing details about Madhubani art, Meenu says, “It is also known as Mithila art, which is a traditional and intricate style of folk art that originates from the Mithila region in Bihar.”
She adds, “It often depicts Hindu deities, mythological narratives and folktales reflecting the religious beliefs and practices of the local community. The pattern of this art form is created using many symbols and motifs such as fish, peacock and tree which hold specific meanings representing fertility, prosperity and harmony.”
Madhubani painting is famous for the diverse themes from Hindu mythology, nature and daily life. Being a nature-loving person, Meenu feels connected to it. “I feel very close to nature, so I keep experimenting with Kachni and Bharni, the two style forms in Madhubani. The detailed features of flora and fauna reflects my connection with the environment.”
Trying to adapt to eco-friendly ways of making art forms, Meenu believes that sticking to organics is most important. “Madhubani art was practiced by women to decorate walls and floors on auspicious occasions. Later it transited to paper, canvas and cloth using paints and other materials. Because of its distinct and colourful pattern it gained popularity globally,” she says.
In the past Madhubani painting was done using colour extracted from nature – such as twigs, leaves and so on – and matchsticks and fingers were used to paint them.
“It needs six months to one year to learn the basic techniques of Madhubani painting and it depends on patience and dedication. With practice and knowledge you will have no problem to incorporate motifs and themes in your work,” she says, as she prepares to conduct a workshop on August 10, from 4 pm to 6 pm, at Carpe Diem in Majorda, South Goa.
This art form is very versatile and has no restrictions. “One speciality of this painting is that it has no restrictions on the material needed to make it. The painting can be done on cloth using fabric colour or on canvas and handmade sheet with acrylic colour,” says Meenu.
“Madhubani is one art form that promotes sustainability to a great extent. Through my art work I also try to keep our tradition alive and pass it on to the next generation,” she says as she signs off.