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SINGING PICTURES:
From left to right, Rani, Rupban and Manimala Chitrakar of Naya Village
in Bengal, India sell their hand-painted scrolls inside Olin Memorial
Library Oct. 13. The women have formed a scroll painters' cooperative in
an effort to keep this centuries old practice alive. Competition from
TV, the Internet, video games has drawn away newer generations. |
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Rani Chitrakar shows off one of her many
scrolls for sale. The scrolls, painted on paper that is mounted on the back of worn
dresses, or saris, depict mythological, religious, social and contemporary themes. |
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Pictured at far right, Ákos Östör, professor
of anthropology and professor of film studies, helps the women set up
their sales booth. Östör is the co-director of a film, "Singing Pictures,"
which examines the ancient art of "singing-scroll making" in Bengali and
features the Chitrakar women. Östör's film follows the artists' daily
lives as they paint, sing, cook, tend to their children, and meet with
the cooperative. They discuss the problems and rewards of practicing
their art, and speak freely about the social, religious, political
changes in the village and the world beyond. |
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The scrolls' colors, Rani Chitrakar explained
through a translator, come from
flowers, trees, herbs and spices found in India. The black colors are
made from burnt rice mixed with gum from tree sap. |
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Rupban, left, and Manimala Chitrakar, right,
sell their work to middle
class families in Calcutta, India. They augment their income by selling
scrolls to urban buyers and government sponsors for campaigns in adult
literacy, social welfare and public health. (Photos by Olivia Bartlett) |
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