Examples of Ephemeral Arts

The most notable examples in this site are drawn from the Indian Subcontinent. These are mehndi, rangoli, masks, fancy festival dress, face painting and floral decorations. The touring exhibition also covers many forms of ephemeral arts.

Mehndi
consists of decorations of hands, feet and face by using henna paste. Mehndi is used to celebrate weddings, cultural events and now, increasingly as a fashion statement. Examples of mehndi are shown in the Mehndi Gallery.

Rangoli
is another example of ephemeral arts. Rangoli is the creation of images using grains, lentils, rice, leaves and seeds to celebrate various cultural events such as Diwali and the New Year. Rangolis are also created using coloured powders, petals, soils and coloured rice. The patterns are typically colourful and often geometric in design.

There is a long tradition of mask making in the Indian Sub-continent. Used ceremonially and in street performance, masks are generally made from paper pulp or tree fibre. In performances, men will often play female roles by wearing masks. Examples of masks are provided in the exhibition.

Flower decoration
A large number of ephemeral arts, such as masks and garlands use flowers due to their short-lived beauty. Certain types, such as marigold and rose, are used more commonly used since their colour or scent religious significance.

Alpana
is a floor art that uses utilises a combination of coloured pastes and flower petals.

Dussehra
(spelt differently by various communities) is an annual religious Festival that commemorates the victory of good over evil, the demon Ravan. Community members build work together to build the towering effigy of Ravan and act out a ceremonial battle between good and evil. The ritual climaxes with the triumphant burning of the demon against a night sky.

Face painting
is perhaps the most widespread ephemeral art, being particularly popular with children around the world. However, in the Indian Sub-Continent it has a much greater spiritual significance. Communities paint their faces during the different festivals. People also paint their faces as tigers, lions and birds to celebrate religious festivals.

Kites
The Festival of Basant provides one of the best examples of the importance of kites as an ephemeral art. Kites are made using tissue and sticks. It is said that that the kites are not merely made to fly, they are warriors and once a kite is airborne it is considered to be open to attack from other kites. The aim of the contest is to severe the string of the opponent's kite.

PICTURE GALLERIES
Examples of ephemeral arts are provided in the two main picture galleries and many other pictures provided on this site.

ART COMPETITION
Details of children's competition will be announced early in the New Year. Children from the age of 10 to 15 will be invited to write a short essay and to submit pictures of their own work. Please fill in the Competition Enquiry Form to receive further information.
For further details please contact: kalwant.ajimal@which.net