QUIZ – 2020: INSIGHTS STATIC QUIZ, 25 July 2020 – Art and Culture

Solution: b)

Warli Painting:

The name of the painting comes from the people who have been carrying the painting tradition that goes back to 2500-3000 BC. They are called the Warlis, indigenous people that occupy mainly

the Gujarat-Maharashtra border. These paintings have close resemblance to the mural paintings of Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh that date back to the pre-historic period.

These ritualistic paintings have a central motif of a chaukat or chauk, which is surrounded by scenes portraying fishing, hunting, farming, dances, animals, trees and festivals. Among the Goddesses,

Palaghata (goddess of fertility) is drawn and among the male gods, those spirits that have taken human form are represented.

Traditionally, the paintings are done on the walls using very basic graphic vocabulary, including a triangle, a circle and a square. These shapes are inspired from nature, i.e. circle from sun or moon, triangle from conical shaped trees or mountains and square from sacred enclosure or piece of land. To represent a human or animal, two triangles are joined at the tip, with circles acting like their head. The base is made of a mixture of mud, branches and cow dung that gives it a red ochre colour. For painting only white pigment is used, which is made of a mixture of gum and rice powder.

Solution: d)

During the early phase of Buddhism, Buddha is depicted symbolically through footprints, stupas, lotus throne, chakra, etc. This indicates either simple worship, or paying respect, or at times depicts historisisation of life events.

Solution: d)

Towards the beginning of the twentieth century a new hybrid architectural style developed which combined the Indian with the European. By integrating Indian and European styles in public architecture the British wanted to prove that they were legitimate rulers of India. This was called Indo-Saracenic.

The inspiration for this style was medieval buildings in India with their domes, chhatris, jalis, and arches.

The Gateway of India, built in the traditional Gujarati style to welcome King George V and Queen Mary to India in 1911, is the most famous example of this style.

Solution: c)

The craft of the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru constitutes the traditional technique of manufacturing brass and copper utensils in Punjab.

This is an oral tradition that is passed on to generations of the ‘Thathera’ community. The metals are heated and moulded into thin plates with curved shapes.

It is recommended for medicinal purposes in several Ayurveda texts. It was patronized and encouraged by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century.

The utensils are of wide variety like those used in household and community kitchens (langar) of Sikh Gurudwaras.

Solution: c)

Qutbuddin Aibak started the construction of Qutub Minar after the name of a famous Sufi saint Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakthiyar. It was later completed by Iltutmish.

Qutub Minar also demonstrates the influence of Sufism in that period.