Traditional Rogan Art, Rogan Art, Rogan Art Gujarat,Rogan Art Nirona

Traditional Rogan Art

The Rogan Art, an ancient textile art, with its origins in Persia, came to Nirona Village Kutch Gujarat around 400 years ago. Traditionally, the craft Rogan Art defies this logic: the rod "pre-manipulates"; the strand of color in the air to create intended motifs before it hits the fabric; the fingers under the fabric help shape the final form into the fabric. In this sense, there is a dialogue between the two hands. Rogan art is produced by boiling castor oil for about two days and then adding Pigments Mineral Color and a binding agent; the resulting paint is thick and shiny.

The cloth that is painted or printed on is usually a dark color, which makes the intense colors stand out. In rogan painting, elaborate designs are produced "free hand", by trailing thread-like strands of paint off of a stick. Majority of the time, half of a design is painted, then the cloth is folded in half, transferring a mirror image to the other half of the fabric. Yellow, White and red and Blue, green are the most frequently used colors. In ancient times Persian alphabets were used as calligraphic motifs. Traditionally in floral and geometrical motifs are used in rogan art. Rogan art is very well known for its "Tree of life" and happiness concept wok. These motifs evoke a once-sublime culture and its understanding of beauty. It is only when one witnesses the time, agility, and the utmost control required to draw a simple flower, that one begins to understand the virtuosity behind these highly intricate pieces such as the tree of life. "No drawings, no planning. It comes from the heart, to head, to hands."

Initially Rogan Art was sustained by local animal herder families and farming communities. Traditionally, these communities’ bridalwear used to be adorned by Rogan art. With the availability of machine made textiles as a cost effective alternative, demand for the art began diminishing. The tradition of Rogan art is sustained by the last and Orignally Abdul Gafur family in Nirona village. It has evolved from being a decorative art to today a unique intricate fine art.

Traditional Rogan Art Process Techanic & Tools

Rogan is a form of textile painting which uses a rich, brightly coloured paint made from castor oil and natural colors. The term Rogan means ‘Oil-based’ in Persian and refers to the thick substance formed by heating and then casting castor oil in cold water. The making of the Rogan paste is done in the jungle where the artisans mix oil and natural color. After it is mixed with natural colours, the paste is drawn out into a fine ‘thread’ with a metal stylus or ‘Kalam’. The artisans then place a small amount of this paint paste into their palm and at body temperature, the paint is carefully twisted across the cloth into motifs and patterns using the ‘Kalam’. Next, the artisan folds the fabric thereby printing its mirror image. The finer details are then added thus completing the Rogan painting.

“Today, when the name of Rogan art comes, then the design of Tree of Life is famous in the world, but Abdul Gafur Khatri ji and his younger brother Sumar Daud Khatri, who invented this "Tree of Life" design.”

Traditional Rogan Art

Traditional Rogan Art Process Techanic & Tools

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