Each era is unique in its distinctive culture. In the
same way Indian art forms have continuously evolved over thousands of
years. In ancient India, various art forms like paintings, architecture
and sculpture evolved. The history of art in ancient India begins with
prehistoric rock paintings. Such rock paintings can be seen in the
Bhimbetaka paintings, belonging to the prehistoric age. Thereafter, an
advanced town planning is seen in Harappa and Mohenjodaro, with their
centrally planned cities indicating a highly developed architecture.
Another remarkable example of sculpture from Harappan civilization comes
in the form of the dancing girl from Mohenjodaro.
The use of symbolic forms in India is as old as the Harappan seals. The
fire altars of the Vedic period, with their astronomical and
mathematical significance also play an important role in the evolution
of the later temples. It was followed by a period in the history of
Indian art that is important for rock-cut caves and temple architecture.
The Buddhists initiated the rock-cut caves, Hindus and Jains started to
imitate them at Badami, Aihole, Ellora, Salsette, Elephanta, Aurangabad
and Mahabalipuram. The rock-cut art has continuously evolved, since the
first rock cut caves, to suit different purposes, social and religious
contexts, and regional differences.
Alongside the art forms like architecture, paintings and sculpture,
there have been evolving, changing, transforming, folk and tribal art
traditions in India. These art forms are expression of people belonging
to different cultural and social groups of India. It is the expression
of people whose life is tuned to the rhythms of nature and its laws of
cyclic change and whose life is knotted with natural energy. It's been a
tradition in India that gods and legends are transformed into
contemporary forms and familiar images. Fairs, festivals and local
deities play a vital role in the development of these arts forms.
It is an art where life and creativity are inseparable. The tribal arts
have a unique sensitivity, as the tribal people possess an intense
awareness very different from the settled and urbanized people. Their
minds are supple and intense with myth, legends, snippets from epic,
multitudinous gods born out of dream and fantasy. Their art is an
expression of their life and holds their passion and mystery.
