The Arts of

South Asia
Arts of South Asia
 Periods of Indian arts
• Ancient Period (3900 BCE – 1200 CE)

• Classical Period (5th to 6th Century)

• Islamic Ascendancy (1192-1757)

• Mogul Period (16th Century)

 Ancient period (3900BCE – 1200CE)
Some evidences of the early civilization are bronze
and copper statuettes and steatite seals, which
show vigor and concern for surface texture as
constantly characterized in Indian art.
Ajanta caves – Ancient Period
The Ajanta Caves of Maharashtra,
India are 30 rock-cut cave
monuments that date back from the
2nd century BCE to the 600 CE,
including paintings and sculptures
considered to be masterpieces of
Buddhist religious art, as well as
frescos that are reminiscent of the
Sigiriya paintings in Sri Lanka.
Ajanta caves – Ancient Period
The frescos in the
Ajanta Caves
Fresco is a mural painting technique
that involves painting with water-
based paint directly onto wet plaster
so that the paint becomes an integral
part of the plaster.
Classical period (5 th
to 6th century)

This is the image of Shiva, the

Destroyer.

It developed into Shiva the

Cosmic- the four arm figure.

One hand holds the fire with

which he destroys.
Classical period (5 th
to 6th century)

Another holds a drum, which is

the first sound heard in the
world at birth.
The third arm points up in a
reassuring gesture.
The fourth points down to the
dwarf in which he dances.
Islamic Ascendancy (1192-1757)
The two great
Indian epics:
the
Mahabharata
and the
Ramayana.
Islamic Ascendancy (1192-1757)
The two great
Indian epics:
the
Mahabharata
and the
Ramayana.
 Islamic Ascendancy (1192-1757)

This was the period of evolution from Vedism

into Hinduism or Brahmanism. The two great
Indian epics: the Mahabharata and the
Ramayana emerged in this period.
 Mogul period (1192-1757)

Moguls contributed to the enrichment of

Indian culture, in painting and in architecture.
The most splendid example is the Taj Mahal
built in 1632 by Shah Jahan in memory of his
wife.
Taj mahal
 Taj mahal
An immense mausoleum of white marble, built in Agra between 1631 and 1648 by order of the Mughal
emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, the Taj. The Taj Mahal is considered to be the
greatest architectural achievement in the whole range of Indo-Islamic architecture

Inside the Taj Mahal, the cenotaphs honoring Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are enclosed in an eight-
sided chamber ornamented with pietra dura (an inlay with semi-precious stones) and a marble
lattice screen.
 Diwali
Diwali is celebrated by Hindus in India and all around the world in October
or November. It is the Hindu New Year and is either a 3-day or 5- day
holiday depending on where you come from. It is a very exciting and
colorful holiday, where homes are cleaned to welcome the New Year and
windows are opened so that the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, can
enter. Hindus believed that she cannot enter a house which is not lit up, so
every household burns special Diwali clay lamps (diyas) to light the way
for the goddess, which is why the holiday is also known as the 'Festival of
Lights'.
Diwali
 Rangoli
Rangoli is one of the most beautiful and most pleasing art forms
of India. It is comprised of two words: 'rang' meaning 'color' and
'aavalli' meaning 'colored creepers' or 'row of colors'. Rangoli, the
art of making designs or patterns on the walls or the floor of the
house, uses finely ground white powder along with different
colors. Numerous households in the Indian subcontinent make
use of Rangoli designs for decorating the courtyard of their
house.
 Rangoli
The traditional form of Rangoli made use of designs
and motifs based on nature, such as mangoes,
creepers, flowers, swans, peacocks, etc. Even the
colors in the traditional art form were extracted from
natural dyes, like barks of trees, leaves, indigo plant,
etc.
Rangoli
ACTIVITY
Using the Map of Life,
recall past experiences
that demonstrates the
importance of arts in
our daily lives.

Place it on a short bond

paper.
ACTIVITY
Rangoli Making
Using either flour or
iodized salt, produce a
rangoli art similar to
what is displayed in these
pictures.
Performance task: Rangoli Making
Short Quiz!
Enumeration:
1-4) Give the four Periods of Indian Arts.
5-6) The two great Epics in India.
7) The Goddess of Destroyer.
8) The Goddess of Wealth.
Short Quiz!
9) The most beautiful arts of India.
10)Where did Ajanta Caves found.
11) What do you called by mural painting in
Ajanta Caves..

12-15) Give the arm figure of Shiva.

Short Quiz!
1-4) Periods of Indian Arts. (Ancient period,
Classical Periods, Islamic ascendancy, Mogul
Period)
5-6) The two great Epics in India.
Mahabharata and Ramayana
7) The Goddess of Destroyer. (Shiva)
8) The Goddess of Wealth (Lakshmi).
Short Quiz!
9) The most beautiful arts of India. Rangoli

10)Where did Ajanta Caves found.

Maharashtra India
11) What do you called by mural painting in
Ajanta Caves. (Frescos/Fresco)
12-15) Give the arm figure of Shiva (Fire,
Drum, Reassuring Gestures, Dwarf dances)