Given India’s vast diversity, it is no surprise that it is home to several native art forms, cultures and traditions. Chittara from the southern state of Karnataka is one such unqiue art. It is a folk-art painting done traditionally on walls and represents the rich cultural heritage of the Malenadu region of Karnataka.
This bio-diverse region located along the Western Ghats is home to several tribal and non-tribal communities including the Deevaru community who are spread across the Sorab, Sagara, Hosanagara and Thirthahalli taluks of Shivamogga district. While Chittara’s origins are rooted in tribal traditions, the community has refined this erstwhile tribal art into a unique folk art filled with symbolism and philosophy. It is intrinsic to their socio-cultural life and integrated with their native customs and rituals. It is key to note that it is the only indigenous mural folk art of the state of Karnataka and is a lesson in indigenous creativity.
Like most indigenous art and craft, Chittara is slowly fading with only a few families involved in this tradition. Bangalore based Geetha Bhat who is extremely passionate about fine art, was fascinated by Chittara when she first witnessed it about 2 decades ago in an exhibition in Chitrakala Parishat. “I was totally in awe of the art form and the immense talent with which the artists deftly drew symmetric lines forming inricate patterns on walls. I was also fascinated by the fact that this artwork done mainly by the women of the Deevara community in Karnataka uses only eco-friendly materials like natural fibres and plant based colours.” says Bhat.
“Soon, I realized that Chittara like many other indigenous arts and crafts is fading and had to be preserved. While art forms like Madhubani and Warli are very popular, most people are not aware of Chittara which is one of the main reasons that CFRIA was incorporated in September 2008” adds Bhat. CFRIA stands for Centre for Revival of Indigenous Art (CFRIA) and is a non-profit organisation based in Bengaluru.
As part of the ongoing efforts to spread awareness and preserve Chittara, Bhat has presented research papers at the InSEA (International Society for Education through Art) Asian Regional Congress in Seoul, South Korea and the InSEA World Congress in Osaka Japan. She was also instrumental in organizing the first Chittara International exhibition which included a photography exhibition on the life style of the Deevaru community and a Chittara workshop way back in 2008 in Japan. “While the artists are extremely proud of their artistic heritage, I thought it was important to showcase their intricate artwork beyond their villages. I have helped coordinate the execution of Chittara murals in several public spaces like the office of the South Western Railways, the IGNCA campus (Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts), the Indian Music Experience as well as the BOSCH Arekere campus in Bangalore” mentions Bhat.
She adds that she works with around 10-15 artists who travel from the villages and execute the artwork themselves. Bhat has also facilitated Chittara workshops in educational institutions like the Rishi Valley school, National Public school and Christ college apart from those in the Science Gallery, Bangalore International Centre (BIC) and the Indian Institute of World Culture.
She has also organized a few experiential trips for people who want to visit these villages and are interested to learn more about Chittara. “Further, during the workshops we help market some of their eco-friendly products like baskets, thoranas (ornamental accessory for the door) etc. We have also helped the artists design contemporary products like stoles and handmade paper cards with Chittara designs which are in demand” adds Bhat. Bhat along with her team has recently released a coffee table book titled “Deevara Chittara” that painstakingly documents this indigenous art form, the Deevaru’s lifestyle, culture, festivals, challenges they face and the future outlook. Bhat has received special honours at the Attendance Annual Awards 2024, for her unstinting commitment towards promoting crafts and Chittara.
Click here to know more about Geetha Bhat’s work in my article for the New Indian Express. Click here and here to read about other unique arts and crafts of India.
