Chapter 6 Modern Development and Relevance in Mural Paintings
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Chapter 6 Modern Development and Relevance in Mural Paintings Imbibing the tradition of Kerala there are many transitions in mural painting. Many studies and changes have taken place in the same, as the painting style of Kerala is a real and widened field. The copies of traditional mural paintings seen in temples have been displayed in Sree Citra Art Gallery in Thiruvananthapuram and the major collection of mural paintings is seen here as well. As there are some religious restrictions inside the temples, the evolution of artistic tradition can be seen in this art gallery. There are many artists in Kerala who illustrate the artistic creation in modern style imitating the illustration plan as well as the metaphorical peculiarities of traditional mural paintings. Being the recreation of tradition, these artistic creations are a movement like modern mural style which is an instance as this is a style of presentation where the contemporary people can adapt with the linear rhythm of Paµcavar¸a illustration in the international painting filed. That is without using natural colours the adaptation of acrylic colours is available in the market for the traditional mural paintings. The popularity for pictures has been coming from the industrial sectors such as tourism and IT, as it gives preference to sustain the essence of tradition. Today mural paintings have come out from the walls in temple and reached out into the public. In the ancient period, the mural painting could only be seen by visiting temples. Adopting a transformation from them, now it has been evolved into a portable one. Today, for learning drawing things like paper, pencil, oil paints, water colour, brushes, art paper and canvas etc. are used. During the reconstruction of the temple, it becomes impossible to use colours with gum, as it is being built by cement. This results the oiled colours and acrylic, synthetic colours being used for this kind of painting. This is simple when compared to the old one, it is possible to etch on the wall in house as per our choice, drawing it on the canvas or board. Some Example like Guruvayur temple surrounding walls, Rugmi¸i Kaly¡¸ama¸·apa, Guruvayur, retreat hall of ár¢ áa´karanilaya (Chinmaya International Foundation Piravam, Ernakulam), Kannur international airport and Navodaya international school auditorium, Malappuram etc. Besides, there are some people who perform mythological characters painting on canvas in the ritual room because of their ardent devotion. In big cities, the style of mural paintings is applied on the picture etched on wall as for an illustration and this is being in line on cloth and even on flex print. As traditional mural paintings are ancient there is less chance to have change in the colour. The things that are used to make are survived by age. For example, some colours are made from the stone gathered up from river. There is no evidence as from where these stones have originated. These are being faded and damaged due to the severe heat, dust and smoke. Besides, for the sake of restrictions, synthetic colours are used instead of natural ones which led to the scientific deterioration of the paintings. The initial stage of mural paintings like construction of wall and the faults made on it have a possibility of ruining the painting. First of all, the wall should be checked to know whether there is any hole or crack. After the construction of the wall for the painting, if the cementing is not good, the painting cannot be etched. If the things like lime, tender coconut and gum are not in the exact quantity and quality, it may affect the painting. 183 Normally the excitement of devotees while at temple can result in the damage of paintings. Sandal, saffron, ash and other things make the images ruined. Renovation of Murals If old pictures get ruined, it is again plastered normally. There are a few differences in doing old plastering unlike not waiting to get dry, a mixture of cotton, raw plantain, sand and lime is grinded and smoothened using tender coconut water and lime and then it is white washed before the repetition of drawing. It again is the latest technique. Moreover, wall is levelled and the cracks are filled up using cotton and gum. Colours, charcoal, paint etc. are removed by using a chemical substance called toluene1 and then re-touching process begin. During this process, synthetic or acrylic colours are normally used. In Kerala, such re-touching work had happened. For example, Sree Krishna temple, Guruvayur, Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple, Vaikkom Mahadeva temple, Sree Krishna temple, Kudavechur, Siva temple Ettumanoor, Pazhoor Perumthrikkovil, Piravam, Thrikkodithanam Vishnu temple, Vasudevapuram temple, Thuravoor Mahadeva temple, Ambalapuzha Sree Krishna swamy temple, Perunna Subrahmanya temple, Alathiyur Hanuman temple, St.Thomas Syrian church, Paravur , St.Mary’s Forane church, Kanjur St. Mary’s Syro- Malabar Church, Kadathuruthy etc. In addition to that, several temple and church works that are gradually getting damaged can now be seen being 1 Toluene (C7 H8, Methylbenzene) is an aromatic hydrocarbon and it is a colourless water insoluble solution with paint thinner. 184 protected by various artists. It is truly a tedious task to conserve these valuable assets that has been excavated few centuries ago. It is the duty of the artists of the new generation. Conservation The dust and cobwebs in drawings are removed using very soft cottons. If not done in caution, there are chances of cotton getting struck in paintings. To remove the fadeout caused by daily rituals at temples is the most difficult. Though these can be cleaned using water or any other similar substance, it may cause damage to the walls used for mural paintings. The faults caused during painting appear as cracks in course of time. If the cracks see occur in the centre of the paintings, it becomes futile. It can also be seen in some temples that these cracks have been plastered using cement in an unsophisticated manner. In such cases, the paintings can be copied and then redrawn after completely plastering the cracked walls is the only feasible solution. If the oil gets splashed on the painting, there is a chance of reaching the walls even. Therefore, the possibility of colours getting faded will be there if those areas are washed by pure water. Otherwise, it is only possible contexts to reconstruct the same. It is not possible to fix the damage deformation on the paintings caused by the crack with pen, pencil and black chalk, man should act in accordance with that. In some temples, the webs of wasp, bee, and hornet’s nest can be seen. If it is noticed at first and carefully handled, it can simply be removed as there is a chance for the webs to grow bigger. As there is a possibility of the web growing larger, it can be 185 removed properly before it gets enlarged. Moreover as part of any ritual function, the walls of temples may get whitewashed which may eventually affect the paintings terribly. Besides, if the water is flowing on the pictures, it can be fixed by the artists. If the colours are damaged due to excessive sunlight, there is only one option as the picture should be recreated. The pictures which are not affected can be protected by coating toluene to it. The best solution is to keep a distance from paintings by a transparent cover with net or glass. But it should not affect the view too. If the reconstruction of the temple is going to happen, the whole paintings may get copied or captured with camera so as to recreate it easily for instance; Guruvayur temple and Thirumandhamkunnu temple2 have done like this. Besides in some temples, the employees think about the paintings only after the renovation. The wall may be plastered with cement or concrete. In these kinds of walls, traditional mural paintings are is draw impossible. In this context, natural colours get replaced but synthetic and acrylic colour. Painting like these is etched on canvas sheet and board are considered as mural painting. The conservation of mural paintings, a mural gallery with modern facilities is required as first. The pictures which are not able to be protected on the walls should be kept without getting much heat and cold so as to not lose it forever which is a style followed to aid the researchers. With quick lines and elegant illustration, the exquisite mural paintings in Kerala have been famous not even in India but also all over the world. Most of the 2 Oral Interview, K.U. Krishnakumar, Principal, Guruvayur Devaswom Institute of Mural Painting. 186 traditional pictures are facing deterioration tendency, negligence and adverse weather and its conservatory activities have been going on as well. When the faded pictures are recreated, it may not get the beauty and elegance of the old one. In mural paintings the techniques of imagination and the perspective of life of a particular period can be seen. There are some temples still existing which may get affected adversely when it is reconstructed.3 There is a style which caused in the deterioration of the paintings as can be. The synthetic colours used in place of natural colours. Moreover some fake devotees who visit temple destroy the paintings. It can be seen as they paint moustache on female paintings and cap on male paintings. Protection of Pictures The field of mural paintings makes the spectators understand the artist’s talent and genius. It can be seen that the inability of artists in due course of time. Today many of the paintings have become deteriorated during the reconstruction of temples, the temple employees clean the paintings with broomstick and brush due to their lack of knowledge about the value of tradition and as part of sacrament as well.