Art Night In Rameswaram Highlights Lost Craft Of Hand-painted Advertising Banners

About 20 years ago, artists used to create advertising banners by hand-painting realistic designs on khata cloth, a method similar to contemporary machine-printed plush banners. However, with the advent of modern advertising techniques, many painters lost their jobs and had to switch professions.

The Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Association is planning to hold an Art Night Program in Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram District, for which Madurai-based artist Saravanan is crafting advertisement boards using traditional Gada cloth.

A local artist Saravanan’s passion for painting began during his school days. Despite failing his 10th standard general examination, he worked in an iron lathe workshop and pursued painting part-time. He joined the Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Artists Sangam in Thiruparangundram and gained recognition at the 1992 Art Literary Night in Tiruvannamalai, where his depiction of a jackal cradling a baby on khata cloth captivated attendees. This experience led him to seek formal training under the artist Tiruvannamalai Pallavan.

Today, traditional tapipod painting and Gada cloth painting are nearly extinct, with the rise of digital banner printing. Despite these changes, hand-painted banners still hold a special place, particularly at events like the Art Literary Night.

As times changed, many painters adapted to the new Plus Banner technique. However, this shift raised concerns about the livelihoods of less affluent painters. In Madurai alone, about 500 painters transitioned to other jobs, such as driving autos or working in construction.

“Traveling throughout Tamil Nadu, I’ve spent time in various districts, staying for a week or ten days at a time, creating banners for local events. Alongside this, I’ve been painting in schools and homes to sustain my life. I believe it’s crucial to revive the art of painting and ensure the protection and support of artists in the future”, Saravanan said.

There is also a fear AI replacing artists is now a frightening reality. This threat to jobs is something many artists have warned about, and now there is evidence that some studios are ready to use AI tools to replace experienced artists.