Sohrai, a vibrant tribal art form that made waves at the Art in Industry national camp that recently ended in Jamshedpur, will make its presence felt in the form of wall murals before Founder's Day.
Jusco, which has already commissioned wider roads and metal sculptures, is now giving an opportunity to women Sohrai painters to showcase tribal art and get rid of drab or graffiti-riddled walls in the city, Beldih Club's boundary being the first public canvas in this endeavour.
The mural will have traditional Sohrai motifs of animals and flowers in bright colours.
Ten women artists whose traditional skills in Sohrai painting were brushed up at the Tribal Cultural Society, Tata Steel, at their centre at Jonragora locality near Parsudih on city outskirts, will do the work.
"We started this painting classes about a couple of years ago and with time we have observed that Sohrai artists have become experts. Therefore, we have tried to provide them with a platform wherever possible. With wall murals, it is huge because everybody in the town can have a look at their work. Women painters are getting a big opportunity to come out of their shell and work," said Urmila Ekka, secretary, Tribal Cultural Society, Tata Steel.
"At present, we have identified the boundary wall of Beldih Club. But, we will get Sohrai murals painted on two more stretches on the Sakchi-Boulevard road. Ideas have been sounded on United Club's boundary walls. There are seven roads that Jusco is widening. We plan to paint Sohrai at stretches to make the city more colourful," said Captain Dhananjay Mishra, Jusco town services.
For the wall paintings to stay beautiful and not peel off soon, Jusco will make a proper cement base for each. Artists are also sacrificing a traditional element - vegetable dyes - and taking up enamel paints for the public paintings to withstand the vagaries of weather, including monsoon.
The paintings will have Sohrai inscribed somewhere below so that urban people know the name of Jharkhand's tribal art form.
Later, Tata Steel plans to give a similar platform to artists who specialise in Soura, a tribal art form indigenous to Odisha.
