This is one of the best images from an ephemeral arts project created during one of the festivals. Created by Madhumita Bose who used petals, small flowers, leaves, coloured rice, sawdusts and sand to fill in a large drawing of the butterfly. For better effect we could have given her a white board to work with! That would have also made the work very portable. Some artists use a thin colourless glue to stick the materials to the board, thereby creating a more longlasting work. But remember, if it lasts for ever it's not ephemeral! The work is a variation of an Indian artform known as Rangoli. But many communities use the floor as the 'medium for expression' and draw patterns which are then filled with colours and materials. Simple.The website www.ephemeralarts.com provides further examples of rangoli. Do you have a description of a floor art or a picture that you would like to be featured in this blog or our website? Please contact me by email: kalwant.ajimal@btinternet.com
