Why in News?
Kurumba painting has been in the news around 12 March 2026 because Kurumba artist R. Krishnan (Krishnan Raghavan) was posthumously conferred the Padma Shri in the Arts category, which brought renewed national attention to this ancient tribal art form.
Key Features
- Origin & Tribe: An ancient tribal art form practiced by the Alu Kurumba tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) residing in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu.
- History: It is a prehistoric tradition estimated to be over 3,000 years old, originally found as rock art in caves like Eluthu Paarai in the Kotagiri region.
- Traditional Subjects: The paintings serve as a visual narrative of tribal life, depicting honey hunting, forest wildlife (bees, deer, elephants), traditional weddings, and ancestral spirits.
Distinctive Style
- Geometric Forms: Uses simple stick-like figures with rectangular bodies, similar to Warli art but unique in its fluid movement.
- Minimal Palette: Traditionally uses only four natural colours—Red, White, Black, and Green.
Natural Materials
- Pigments: Sourced from the forest, including Vengai tree resin (for yellow-brown/black) and crushed Pachaikeeda leaves (for green).
- Tools: Applied using banyan tree aerial roots, fine twigs, or bamboo sticks instead of commercial brushes.
Cultural Significance
- Traditionally, only male temple priests were allowed to paint the village walls and temples, while women decorated doors and floors with kolams.
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