Mukha Shilpa- The art of mask making at Majuli, Assam


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Creator/Artist: Supriya Dutta

Category: Interaction Design

Document: P1 Project

Batch: 2017-2019

Source: India,   IDC IIT Bombay

Period:  2009-2018

Medium: Report pdf

Supervisor: Dr. Hemchandra Goswami


Detailed Description

Mukha or masks are the expression of mythological characters of the epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. The art of mask making in Assam was conceptualised by Srimanta Shankardev, a Neo Vaishnavait saint during the mediaeval period. He, also known by the name “Mahapurusha” was the pioneer who brought about revolutionary changes in literature as well as in socio-cultural life of the region. He established a new era of educating the common people through Bhakti movement. He created dramas, composed songs, poetry and paintings based on the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dramas composed by Shankardeva, called Ankiya Bhaona were based on the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. According to Birinchi Kumar Barua, a renowned Assamese writer, “Shankardeva realized that the appeal of his kavyas is oracular rather than visual. So with a master -stroke he transformed and elevated this rudimentary play into a kind of drama built on classical concept and grandeur.” Bhaona is a unique style of drama, composed by the saint to educate common people through their active participation in portraying the different characters of the epics. The performers in bhaona(drama) were called bhaoriya. Certain characters such as Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, Jatayu, etc. were difficult to portray using make-up or clothes. To accentuate such characters Srimanta Shankardev created their images through masks (Mukha).