Mangaluru: Taking art beyond the confines of paper and canvas, around 15 artists and more than 150 volunteers came together on Friday to create ‘Alpana’, a traditional Bengali folk art, on the stretch leading from the entrance of Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple to its doors, bringing a ritual art form into a public space during Mangaluru Dasara.Organised by Pixncil Studio, the initiative drew an unexpectedly large response, with volunteers of different age groups joining the artists to fill the designs with colour. Founder Prithviraj said the team had not anticipated such a turnout, with participation estimated at between 130 and 150 people.Alpana, traditionally practised in Bengal, is a form of decorative floor art associated with auspicious occasions and rituals. Designs are drawn on the ground before religious ceremonies, including the installation of an idol.Inspired by this tradition, the artists recreated the art form along the temple approach, adapting its designs with a coastal touch. “We wanted people to see that art need not be confined to paper and canvas. There is so much scope for art beyond these mediums, and we want to introduce people in Mangaluru to different forms of artistic expression,” Prithviraj said. The artists retained Alpana’s traditional designs, adding fish motifs to give the artwork a coastal touch.He said the idea took shape after he discovered the art form and Padmaraj Poojary, treasurer of the Kudroli Temple governing committee, encouraged the studio to organise an art initiative and also rendered support during Dasara.The team prepared the sketches on Friday morning, before volunteers joined the artists at 6 pm to paint the designs. The work continued through the night and was completed between 4 am and 5 am on Saturday.The temple approach thus became a temporary public canvas, allowing visitors to encounter the art form outside a conventional gallery or exhibition space.While this was Pixncil Studio’s first Alpana project of this kind, it was not the team’s first street-art initiative.Prithviraj said the studio had been undertaking street-art projects since 2020 at various locations in and around Mangaluru, with a different concept guiding each project.The larger objective, he said, was to expand the city’s engagement with art and encourage artists to explore public spaces as creative platforms.“Art has advanced considerably, and people need to see the possibilities beyond pencils, paper and canvas. There is considerable scope for the art scene in Mangaluru to grow, and projects like these can help introduce people to different forms of art,” he said.
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