A Study of Floor Art Motifs and Their Symbolism

ABSTRACT

A work of art exists outside of time and place, No one race or culture has control over it, but rather, it displays the workings of an inventive human mind that has existed throughout history. As a result, it is now acknowledged as an Indian art form. Findings in other cultures that attempt to define and correlate similar religious and cultural beliefs and practices, as well as indirect evidence such as the presence of some common symbols in ancient Indian rock paintings and on the IVC ruins and ancient coins, sculptures and temple decorations all point to the existence of floor art in India dating back thousands of years. All folk and tribal cultures across the world use symbolic shapes to decorate floors, walls, and objects to express their religious beliefs, customs, and rituals. The rangoli art form, which is ubiquitous in India, is one example. It is possible to see how today’s globalization is causing the movement of culture beyond established borders and how culture adapts to new cultural and geographic settings through the practice of rangoli.

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