CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Votive Horse. The offering of votive horses and elephants to the village deities is a common phenomenon of rural Odisha. Such sculptures are made as offerings to a deity and left untended where they are placed, under a tree, near a pond or river, or in a grove. They accumulate, they decompose, and others take their place. The seven pieces of the horse are made separately on the wheel and then joined together adding the molded ears and tail.

Subject: Votive Horse. The offering of votive horses and elephants to the village deities is a common phenomenon of rural Odisha. Such sculptures are made as offerings to a deity and left untended where they are placed, under a tree, near a pond or river, or in a grove. They accumulate, they decompose, and others take their place. The seven pieces of the horse are made separately on the wheel and then joined together adding the molded ears and tail.

Subject: Votive Horse. The offering of votive horses and elephants to the village deities is a common phenomenon of rural Odisha. Such sculptures are made as offerings to a deity and left untended where they are placed, under a tree, near a pond or river, or in a grove. They accumulate, they decompose, and others take their place. The seven pieces of the horse are made separately on the wheel and then joined together adding the molded ears and tail.

Subject: Tulasi Brundavati Chaura. In Odisha, goddess Brundavati is worshipped in the form of Chaura, which is a small temple like structure adorned with sculptures and with a Tulasi plant overhead. Tulasi Chaura is mostly worshipped by married women who want blessings for leading a prosperous family life.

Subject: Tulasi Brundavati Chaura. In Odisha, goddess Brundavati is worshipped in the form of Chaura, which is a small temple like structure adorned with sculptures and with a Tulasi plant overhead. Tulasi Chaura is mostly worshipped by married women who want blessings for leading a prosperous family life.

Subject: Gotipua Dance. The Gotipua traditional dance is considered to be the forerunner of the famous classical Odissi dance form. In Oriya, ‘goti’ means single and ‘pua’ means boy. For many centuries young boys dressed as girls perform the Gotipua dance form to praise Lord Jagannath.

Subject: Nabagunjara. Nabgunjara depicts a composite animal in which Lord Vishnu disguised himself in the Odia version of Mahabharata. It has the head of a cock, neck of a peacock, hump of the bull, a snake for tail, and the waist of a lion. Three of its legs are from a tiger, a horse and an elephant while the fourth is a human holding a flower or a mirror.

Subject: Ushakothi. This (left) part of the wall is painted with an image of Shiva and Nandi. Shiva is flanked by two women attendants on each side. At the top, there are painted images of Ganesha and Kartikeya in the left and right corners respectively. At the bottom, there are painted images of Basuki the snake and a Tulsi Chaura.

Subject: Kamadhenu. Kamadhenu is a divine goddess described in Hinduism as Gou Mata (the mother of all cows).

Subject: Kamadhenu. Kamadhenu is a divine goddess described in Hinduism as Gou Mata (the mother of all cows).

Subject: Kamadhenu. Kamadhenu is a divine goddess described in Hinduism as Gou Mata (the mother of all cows).

Subject: Kamadhenu. Kamadhenu is a divine goddess described in Hinduism as Gou Mata (the mother of all cows).

Subject: Kamadhenu. Kamadhenu is a divine goddess described in Hinduism as Gou Mata (the mother of all cows).

Subject: Kamadhenu. Kamadhenu is a divine goddess described in Hinduism as Gou Mata (the mother of all cows).

Subject: Votive Horse. The offering of votive horses to the village deities is a common phenomenon of rural Odisha. Such sculptures are made as offerings to a deity and left untended where they are placed, under a tree, near a pond or river, or in a grove. They accumulate, they decompose, and others take their place. The seven pieces of the horse are made separately on the wheel and then joined together adding the molded ears and tail.

Subject: Votive Horse. The offering of votive horses to the village deities is a common phenomenon of rural Odisha. Such sculptures are made as offerings to a deity and left untended where they are placed, under a tree, near a pond or river, or in a grove. They accumulate, they decompose, and others take their place. The seven pieces of the horse are made separately on the wheel and then joined together adding the molded ears and tail.

Subject: Krishna-Radha on Kandarpa Hasti. In this straw craft image, Krishna and Radha are on a Kandarpa Hasti. Kandarpa Hasti, the heavenly elephant, is a popular theme in the context of Krishna Raas Leela. The other name of Kandarpa Hasti is 'Navanarikunjara' where nine gopis are entangled with each other to form the shape of an elephant. Straw craft is created by placing straw strand by strand to form a sheet and then cutting the sheet to create a patchwork for the desired shape. This is pasted onto a black cloth that has been mounted on a board. Images created are usually historical or religious. The Kandarpa paintings portray Krishna with the milkmaids or gopikas who are under the spell of his love, in different formations.

Subject: Puppet (Monkey). Painted wood shaped into an animal (monkey) and used as a toy.

Subject: Puppet (Monkey). Painted wood shaped into an animal (monkey) and used as a toy.

Subject: Puppet (Monkey). Painted wood shaped into an animal (monkey) and used as a toy.

Subject: Puppet (Monkey). Painted wood shaped into an animal (monkey) and used as a toy.

Subject: Surai (Water flask). Odisha is known for its lineage of skilled artisans of terracotta pottery. Terracotta crafts being water and weather proof are popular as indoor objects as well as outdoor decoration. Products range from those belonging to ritualistic ceremonies to artifacts of utilitarian and artistic significance. Earthen vessels and utensils such as this surai or water flask are a basic requirement of rural life. A surai is distinguished by its flattened, bulbous body and a long and narrow neck.

Subject: Surai (Water flask). Odisha is known for its lineage of skilled artisans of terracotta pottery. Terracotta crafts being water and weather proof are popular as indoor objects as well as outdoor decoration. Products range from those belonging to ritualistic ceremonies to artifacts of utilitarian and artistic significance. Earthen vessels and utensils such as this surai or water flask are a basic requirement of rural life. A surai is distinguished by its flattened, bulbous body and a long and narrow neck.

Subject: Tirthankar Parsuvanathar, seated, front view