USHA THAKUR started her endeavor of artworks with folk style of traditional Mithila Painting since more than a decade back. She dedicated herself with full devotion in bringing the art in her own unique style. It was easy for her to grasp the skills as she is a native of North Bihar to which this painting style belongs to. It was something like skills passing from generation to generation. In Hyderabad she got associated with the art sphere of the Mithila Sanskritik Parishad, a cultural society of the people of Mithila region. She was encourage to do paintings for the distinguish guests like Shri P.V.Ranga Rao, Jannath Mishra and many other dignitaries. Thus it was a continuous appreciation and encouragement that motivated her to continue the painting activities. Under the banner of USHA ARTS many wall paintings and greeting cards were designed by her which brought lots of exclusiveness and variation in her art works.
Mithila Painting, is a rich traditional paintings of Mithila region. Anciently the Mithila region was the royal kingdom of Raja Janaka and the birth place of Sita Maa. This area is presently the northern part of Bihar and part of Nepal. Mithila painting is also popularly known as Madhubani (forest of honey) paintings. It is a name of a village which is a hub of this painting activity. It is one of the creative activities by the women folk. In the paintings they paint figurine, geometrical designs, pantheons of deities, nature, myths on household activities, legendaries of great epics to mark the seasonal festivals of the year and the glorious ceremonies taking place in the family. One of the important and popular presentations is KOHBAR. When marriages are being arranged in the family they arrange the ASTA DAL of Lakshmi called as Kohbar. They signify the wedding proposals. These paintings certainly abhor the vibrant motifs on all empty spaces very vividly.
The meditative mood and dedication of the artist is seen with the brilliant color spreads and the intricate motifs. The bright vivid colors and the lines filling the motifs are the hall mark of this style. Originally it was the folk activity practiced by all women mostly on walls or floors of the house. Recently these are done on the canvas also. The central theme of all these paintings is mostly to shower love, fertility and blessings to the family. During the sketching of these paintings the artist goes in the deep meditative mood; enjoys the process and then only the uniqueness of the paintings having divine vibrations are produced.
Basically the people of this region are shakti worshippers who believe in tantric rituals. So mostly in the paintings Shiva – Shakti, Kali, Durga, Ravana, Hanumana etc. appear in the murals very symbolically and encircled with auspicious symbols of fertility, prosperity and good luck. These include fishes, parrots, turtles, sun, moon, planets, bamboo tree, lotus and various flowers etc. which are symbolically very prominent. The fillings of colors are mostly with the bright colors of significant value. The basic styles of doing these paintings stand out in the way colors and lines are filled in the motifs. If the figures are filled with flat colors they are called as BHARANI style. If the vibrant lines are filled in the motifs they are called as KACHINI style. If one orange shade is used in the full painting then it is called as GERU style and if the canvas is painted with cow dung paste then it is called as GOBAR style. As per Vastu Science these paintings are believed to have lots of positive energy bringing happiness, stability, prosperity, authority etc. to the individual and the family.
These paintings are well recognized across the Globe. There are exclusive galleries of Mithila Painting in Germany and Japan. Many artists of mithila painting like Ganga devi, Bauwa Devi are adorned with Padmashri awards.
USHA THAKUR, who has been making strives in the painting activities have continuously been improving her own style. Her paintings not only have the esthetic sense but also the spiritual aspects. The colors used are synthetic and are well thought off, balanced and unique. She had been engaged in freelancing work with renowned Emporiums of the twin city. She has been working on various other style of paintings, like Oil paintings, glass painting and 3D-modelling. She had exhibited her solo works at Warangal, Hyderabad was well appreciated and several group shows are done in the city.
It is proposed to donate part of the sale proceeds form these paintings sale for a noble cause to a well known NGO – Vishwa Nirmala Prem Ashram, a home for destitute women and orphan children. The NGO Vishwa Nirmala Prem Ashram was founded by H. H. SHRI MATAJI NIRMALA DEVI in the year 2003. In her motherly love and tremendous compassion she wanted to help women and girls, those who have no shelter and no means to integrate into the society. The number of needy, abandoned women and girls in India is gigantic and it is the most helpless section in the society.
Mataji Nirmala Devi is also founder of Sahaja Yoga. Sahaja Yoga is a scientific technique of meditation. In this technique the dormant energy of an individual gets activated and energizes the plexus and gets connected with the Gods power known as Cosmic Energy. By practicing so, one can easily get ride of physical, mental and emotional problems. |
