This monograph Murals for Goddesses and Gods is a magnificent document of India’s ritual painting, based on systematic study of the Osakothi (osa penance, kothi sacred space) murals or Orissa. It explores the rare rich and meaningful and fast disappearing ritual art of mural painting. The antiquity of this art can be traced to the prehistoric rock-cave paintings of Mirzapur, Singhapuri, Bhimbetka, Jhiri, and elsewhere in India. A close parallel is seen in the contemporary ritual relating to Rathwa mural paintings Gujarat. In both cases there is transformation and re-enlivement of the visual image. To the authors of this carefully researched and richly illustrated monograph, the Osakothi complex is one of India’s finest living traditions concerning around annually produced folk murals of goddesses and Gods, unrecorded so far. Prefaced by Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan, a foremost authority on Indian art and culture, this work will fascinate not only the students of art, religions and Indian civilization but also everyone with an inquiring mind.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dinanath Pathy
Dinanath Pathy, is a practising contemporary painter, writer and art historia. Designed and curated International Exhibitions-Indian Popular Art in Sweden and USSR for Festival Orissan Festival in Indonesia. Acted as Commissioner, Director and Jury for prestigious International events like, 7th Triennale India, 4th Cairo Biennale, National Contemporary Art Exhibition etc. Co-author to Dr. Eberhard Fischer for publications-Orissa Kunst and Kulture in Nordost Indien, 1980, Die Perlenkette Dem Geliebten Elf illustrierte Palmblatter Zur Rasika Haravali, 1990, Murals for goddesses and Gods-The Tradition of Osakothi Ritual Paintings in Orissa, 1996. Illustrated Childern books for Unicef, New York in collaboration with Eberhard and Barbara Fischer. Author of Traditional Paintings of Orissa, Essence of Orissan Paintings, Painted Icons and Mural Paintings in Orissa. Exhibited in India and in Zurich, Japan, Indonesia, Sweden, Moscow, China and London. Awarded President of India Silver Plaque for Painting, A.L. Basham Memorial Awarded President of India Silver Plaque for Painting, A.L. Basham Memorial Award for Research, Sahitya Akademi Award for Creative Writing, and Certificate of Honour in 98 International China Art Expo. Recipient of British Council Fellowship, Nehru Trust, Victoria & Albert Museum Fellowship, Japan Foundation Fellowship and BEF Foundation, Zurich Fellowship. Held important assignments-Curator of Art and Crafts, Orissa State Museum, Founder Principal, B.K. College of Art and Crafts, Bhubaneswar and Secretary, Lalit Kala akademi, New Delhi. Now working on "Renewal Art-The Indian Tradition with specific reference to the work of Citrakaras in Orissa" on a Jawaharlal Nehru Fellowsship.
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