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tribal paintings

WALL ART, jammu & kashmir

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The wall art in Jammu & Kashmir comprises murals and paintings and plays an important role in tribals' furtherance of their expression. The works usually depict nature and incorporate motifs from tribal mythology represented in form of patterns, animals, trees, and celestial symbols. Such imagery establishes a connection between the community's immediate environment and spiritual beliefs, representing harmony with nature. On one layer, wall art is a record of artistic heritage: it is a preservation of stories, symbols, and thoughts of significance to the tribe pertaining to culture and spirituality.

Wall

In Jammu & Kashmir, particularly the more remote areas, tribal wall art remains a practice of cultural identity. Traditionally, this knowledge is passed down by elders, who teach younger members about the meanings of various symbols and motifs. For these communities, wall art is as much a medium of decoration as it is a storytelling medium. Each of the patterns and figures painted has its significance, representing elements of tribal cosmology, values, and their deep connection with nature.

Colorful

All traditional Kashmir wall art is created from naturally sourced and locally available resources, as are tribal artisans using their old way of mixing clay, lime, and natural pigments from minerals, plants, and charcoal for striking colors. Such simplicity of materials further reinforces the entire cycle of eco-friendliness, entirely depending on sustainability. These, combined with skilled techniques, bring out brilliant and vibrant colors and textures in the murals to create art that perfectly blends into the surroundings.

Flowers

Wall murals have various uses in tribal communities. Aside from their aesthetic role, they typically serve as vessels of cultural messaging and preservation of heritage. Homes that have murals are actually representatives of the community's religion, values, and beliefs. The wall paintings also contribute to the beauty of the homes, providing each of them with their own personal element. Moreover, it is practiced to touch up or repaint the murals every time there are festivals and rituals, solidifying their cultural relevance.

Wall

The cultural relevance of wall painting is deep-seated in such tribes, as it signifies identification with the forebears and their cosmologies. The figures, colors, and designs painted on the murals carry history in terms of how they were originated, the principles they represent, and how they lived their lives. Wall paintings express how the tribes reverence the environment and believe in the world around them. It also stores traditional information because every drawing transmits over the generations and the continuity and dignity of the tribe remain unbroken.