Nageshwar Dhanalkota

India

Deckle Edge

Scroll Painting, Masks

Nageshwar Dhanalkota and his family are among the last remaining artists to carry on the tradition of making scroll paintings, dolls and masks in the particular local style of the Indian village of Cherial. Crafted from natural materials such as saw dust, tamarind paste, natural gum and lime stone, these paintings, dolls and masks represent characters and scenes from classical epics, local folklore and daily life. Traditionally, they have been used as props and illustrations for performances by wandering, hereditary storytellers whose tales narrate the mythology of their particular communities.