Travails Of A Gourd Artist
Sharada Balasubramanian
22 November 2007, 02:37Art in its varied forms brings out explicit creativity and innovations. Meet self-motivated artist Devraj Khastagir, who in spite of no formal training in arts, has created magic with a new form of art, unexplored by any other artist.
Art has been a part of his life ever since he rejoiced in having received his first box of crayons. Last year, Devraj along with his friends decided to do something innovative and new! Along with a
group of his friends, Devraj made an unique pandal with a new theme. This was the first time that he created a new form of artwork with bamboos. This was a new concept in both West Bengal and India. The decorated pandal named ‘Bansher Bhuvan’ was lauded by different TV channels as well as getting him various accolades for the Durgotsav’2006.
That was just the beginning for Devraj. After the festival, he started thinking of new ideas. His passion for innovating a new style of art took him to the world of gourds. One day, Devraj saw an old man carrying some broken tanpuras ( an Indian instrument) on his shoulder. Devraj feels that gourds are truly ‘nature’s pottery’ as they come in different shapes and sizes.
The bottom of the Tanpuras are made of dried gourd shells. They were broken in such a manner it looked like an artform itself. Gourds are mostly used as resonating chambers of certain musical instruments like Tanpura, Sitar, etc. He thought of creating a pandal with dried shells of gourd.
Devraj quit his job to devote all his time for creating artworks for pandal. Along with his friend, he signed an agreement with one of the puja organisers to promote his unique art work. He was, however, betrayed by his friend. His friend had signed the agreement with the organiser without him. He was stuck with hundreds of gourd shells and no means of utilizing them as he had first forseen.
Well the saying necessity is the mother of invention might have been first spoken with Devraj in mind. It was out this seemingly disastrous event that he developed the new form of art.Gourd art, in Devraj’s words involves creating works of art by painting on dried gourd shells based on the principles of pointillism. During the process, gourd surfaces may be carved, sanded, burned, dyed, and polished. He has also knitted with wools and threads on gourds.
Devraj’s hunt for gourds to propel his art form led him to a supplier who could give him thousands of gourds if he needed. Each dried gourd shell would cost about Rs.100-Rs.300 depending on the size. However, due to shortage of funds, he started cultivating the gourds by himself.
He sought the help of a farmer to cultivate nearly 200 gourds for about six months. Most of the gourds were destroyed in the heavy rainfall. Drying gourds, which takes months in some cases, causes the internal contents (seeds and fruit matter) to dry out completely. The shell of the gourd, once dried, has a wooden appearance. Gourd ‘wood’ is essentially cellulose that has no grain, varying in thickness from paper-thin to well over an inch.
The process of cleaning a gourd, which involves soaking, scrubbing, and cutting, then cleaning the inside of pulp and seeds, involves many hours of preparation before embellishments are added. When dried and cleaned, each one will have its own natural blemishes and scars, which serve to enhance their natural beauty. They are also surprisingly light and fragile.
Gourds are most commonly used for storing supplies, hauling water, making cooking and eating utensils and musical instruments. Currently dried gourd shell is not on the list of handricrafts items available in West Bengal or India, so acceptance remains Devraj’s biggest challange..
Last year, along with the end of the celebrations, his creations with bamboos died. With the support of his dear friend Rajkumar Dey, and in spite of the scoffing of others, he has focused his energies on creating acceptance for his work in the more permanent medium of gourds.
When you look at the artwork of Devraj, you will know patience, love and care went into the making of this unique form of art. He is truly the pioneer of Indian Gourd Art.
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