From Clay to Divinity: The Image Makers of Odisha

This book offers a path-breaking analysis of the transformations that occupied the art and aesthetic values of odisha during the colonial nationalist periods. I moved beyond most existing assumptions and narratives to explore the complexities and diversities of the changes generated by image making context and pre-occupations in art. I examined both the forms and Practices of Artisans as well as the cultural Part. So I choose this topic to write. Cuttack is not unfamiliar to me: I belong to the district of Cuttack since I was born and brought-up in small village of Katikata. This is very famous for the rituals and tradition. My mother is a traditional Jhoti and Chita painter. I have taken these arts as my entertainment. Very often, I used to match the Jhoti and Chita and other ritual performers in my village and other neighboring villages during the occasion. I feel through this work an understanding of the historical and analytical study of the visual art and the stylistic contents of the clay image-making which have been continuing in costal belt of Odisha, Cuttack in so far as image-making, colouring, ornamentation and other decoration by the Karigaras are concerned.