Princess breathes new life into old tradition

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It was the love of art and heritage that inspired princess Vaishnavi Kumari of Kishangarh to come forward and
promote and take the local art to places far and near. At a recent event at R The Spa, Radisson Blu Plaza, she displayed three of her selected artworks for the guests as part of the ongoing Royal Fables celebration.
Speaking about the vibrant art of Kishangarh and her initiative Studio Kishangarh, which was started in 2010 to highlight the beautiful artworks by local artists, Vaishnavi says, “Painting as an art form in Kishangarh has been a very old tradition, dating back nearly 350 years. This art in its heyday with its influences deeply steeped in Radha-Krishna bhakti and the splendour of the natural beauty around Kishangarh had a unique ethereal and almost mystical quality. I want to promote and preserve this art so that more people get to know about this.”
Apart from painting, the artists also produce home décor products such as home accessories, stationery, personal accessories and apparel.
Vaishnavi, who is an artist herself and has formal training in design and art history, points out, “The paintings from Kishangarh are really special for me because they are from my hometown. They are also very unique. One of the most notable features that one can observe in these paintings is the elongated eyes that are painted with great detailing. Also cows are one of our very strong and widely used motifs, since they represent the bhakti factor from the Radha-Krishna tales.”
She informs that Studio Kishangarh was founded as an effort to generate new patronage in the traditional art form of miniature paintings.
She adds, “The studio is an amalgamation of old aesthetic and techniques with new materials and concepts. There were two main reasons behind starting this studio. First, to preserve the traditional form of miniature painting by giving employment to local artists, many of whom have had this vocation in their family for generations. Secondly, I wanted to introduce revive the traditional art by introducing new themes, exploring Indian mythology and the influence of Radha-Krishna in art. I will be going to London for higher education in art and history of art this year. When I come back, I hope to do more to support this cause.”