Erotic sculptures from Khajuraho and Hampi get transferred on to bags, pendants and door knobs at artist Rupali Madan's workshop
Erotic sculptures from Khajuraho and Hampi get transferred on to bags, pendants and door knobs at artist Rupali Madan's workshop
You might want to think twice before boarding a crowded bus carrying a canvas bag handpainted with an image of temple erotica. But designer Rupali Madan says she has several takers. "I was initially wary if customers would appreciate it, but they are a sell-out. My customers aren't prudes, they pick up the products for the design and colours, not erotica," says the 26 year-old behind Rtistic. While the chunk of the artist's clients are foreign tourists and expats, college students and young women are followers too.
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Rupali Madan creates a terracotta mould at her workshop |
At a time when artists preferred studying contemporary art, Rupali took up Indian traditional art. The just-married Rupali enrolled at the KPJ Prabhu Artisan Institute in Bangalore in 2007, the only woman in an all-male class of 55. "I was studying with children of artisans who came from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Nagaland and Tamil Nadu. We struck a barter; they'd teach me their ancient skills, and I'd share what I knew of
modern art," she remembers.
In October 2008, she set up Rtistic, a brand that she hoped would resuscitate traditional Indian art by presenting it with a contemporary twist. Rupali took popular sculptures and etchings from ancient heritage structures like Ajanta and Ellora (2nd century BC to 6th century AD), Halebid (12th century AD), Elephanta (6th century BC), Khajuraho (2nd century BC) and Hampi (14th century AD) to transfer them as paintings onto bags, door handles and jewellery.
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Apsara door handle inspired by Khajuraho.
Pics/ Santosh Nagwekar |
Rupali employs women slum dwellers from Dharavi and Khar, and paraplegic kids from Thane's Jidda School to help with the sewing of bags and creating clay moulds for sculptures and pendants.
What to buy
Her product list includes bags that carry acrylic on canvas paintings. Priced at Rs 1,500 onwards, these handpainted bags are washable and feature images of a warrior's farewell before going to battle (from Halebid) to erotic sculptures from Khajuraho.
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Cleopatra necklace decorated with Indian paise |
Rtistic also stocks statuettes of Madanika, a celestial courtesan who's found in etchings on the temples at Hampi. She's seen dancing, combing her hair, even applying lipstick. Priced at Rs 30,000 onwards, these are crafted from a single piece of limestone or shale.
Lovers of trinkets must pick up pendants that bear imprints of archaeological finds, including the bearded man bust discovered in Harappa. Rupali uses replicas of ancient coins to trim necklaces. The choice of aluminum over copper or bronze to create pendants makes them affordable at Rs 350 onwards.
Her door handles feature sculptures of goddess Mohini found in temples of Halebid in Karnataka. Molten metal is poured into clay moulds to create seductive reliefs. These are priced between Rs 1,500 and Rs 3,500 each.
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Did you know?
With respect to erotic art, one expert opinion suggests that the fau00e7ade of temples featured erotic
sculptures because it was an indication that devotees had to leave their sexual desires behind before
entering the temple.At: Art Desh Gallery, White House Annexe, Walkeshwar Road. Email: rupali.madan01 @gmail.com or log on to www.rtstic.com. Call: 9967336068
