The Intersection of Technology and Traditional Art Practices

Traditional art is one of the most fascinating parts of our heritage, and preserving it has become a prime concern amongst conservationists and art enthusiasts alike. Keeping these art forms alive is not always easy, from the detailed processes of creating handmade traditional art to the decreasing number of traditional artisans with the requisite knowledge.

Leveraging Technology as a Creative Catalyst

Traditional Art with Modern Tools

Traditional art is hand-crafted and, thus, extremely time-consuming and challenging. It often requires access to expensive or rare materials, tools, or traditional knowledge, which is quickly vanishing. The Indian government has recognised the erosion of traditional art and taken some steps to preserve it through schemes that incentivise the continued practice of traditional art forms.

However, this is insufficient to maintain traditional art and bring it into the mainstream. Traditional art is often too leisurely for today’s fast-paced world. Hence, utilising advanced digital art tools to supercharge the process of creating traditional art can conserve it while also increasing its popularity among the masses. This is why the Bachelor of Fine Arts programmes at the top universities of India train students in both modern tools and traditional art.

Restoring Traditional Art with Technology

Many relics of the past have considerable artistic value and beauty but have diminished with time. Conservationists have revived many traditional art pieces through modern technology like microscopy and laser cleaning. Some of these are priceless artefacts kept in museums.

3-D Modelling

Technology like 3-D modelling can recreate and reimagine traditional art in new and innovative ways. It allows for experimentation with scale and interactive elements previously thought impossible. It can be utilised to create digital sculptures inspired by traditional art forms.

Tools like 3-D Modelling can replicate traditional art forms digitally, making them more accessible for mass consumption and hence contributing to their popularity and continuity.

Computer-Aided Design

Computer-aided Design (CAD) has been used to speed up the process of creating traditional art like Madhubani art. These traditional Indian art forms have gained popularity in the West, and increasing their production through technology can improve their availability despite growing demand. Bachelor of Fine Arts programmes have steadily added these tools to the curriculums to keep up with the technological transformations.

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

Museums and exhibitions use virtual reality to make art accessible online with 360-degree and panoramic views, making them more interactive and intriguing. Indian Museums are integrating virtual tours and virtual reality into their exhibitions, like the National Museum in New Delhi. The AR-powered museum showcases extraordinary works of art virtually, including details like wisps of smoke and intricate embroidery in paintings that would not be visible to the naked eye.

Virtual reality is also an excellent tool for top universities of India striving to create more interactive lessons for Bachelor of Fine Arts students. Art History lessons teaching students about the rich tapestry of India’s traditional art can utilise modern technology like virtual reality to include virtual 3-D replicas of traditional art, giving students a clearer idea of these art forms.

Graphic Design

Graphic Design helps preserve, reimagine, and create traditional art. It also makes the creation process more swift and easy for artists. That is why the Bachelor of Fine Arts curriculum at Manipal University, Jaipur, incorporates Graphic Design.

Traditional art like Warli, Kolam, and Madhubani are incredibly intricate and thus time-consuming. Graphic design software can aid artists in speeding up the creation process, and the generated prints can be used for various purposes, such as textile prints or animations that breathe new life into these traditional art forms.

Traditional Art in Modern Product Design

Modern product design in India often harks back to traditional art. Everything from laptop sleeves to furniture incorporates traditional art like Kalamkari and Warli. Brands are recognising consumer demand for designs inspired by rich Indian art forms.

Students of Bachelor of Fine Arts at Manipal University Jaipur are perfectly positioned to pursue a thriving career in product design due to their twin expertise in product design and art history. The university includes numerous courses that teach hard skills in BFA students-

Fundamental of Design
History of Art & Culture
Computer Application
Corporate Identity & Branding
Theory of Visual Communication
Graphic Design

The consumer demand for product design inspired by traditional art reflects the collective desire to return to our roots and preserve our rich culture and heritage. Modern brands are keen to meet this demand by integrating traditional art into their products. This opens up new opportunities for Bachelor of Fine Arts students who can lend their expertise to create designs that combine modern tastes with traditional art.

Preserving the Essence

This blog has highlighted how technology is transforming traditional art forms and making them more accessible. However, we must be cautious about preserving the essence of traditional art and including traditional artisans in the process.

The digital divide in India precludes traditional artists from accessing the technologies listed above. There is an urgent need to bridge this digital divide, learn from traditional artists, and teach them about modern digital tools that are taking the art world by storm.

Moreover, traditional art holds tremendous sentimental and cultural value for communities. Commercialising and appropriating it can hurt sentiments unless done right. This is why the art history lessons provided by the BFA programmes at the top universities of India are vital for understanding not only traditional artistic styles but also their historical and cultural contexts so that any modern reimaginings respect the history behind the art form.

Conclusion

Modern technology is transforming traditional art, but these art forms are also leaving their imprint on modern products. This is the beauty of India’s modernisation journey, which has adapted to technological progress without forgetting its traditional roots. Virtual reality, 3-D Modelling, and computer-aided Design make traditional art more accessible than ever. They are revolutionising every aspect, from the production process to the distribution and viewing process.

Today, art enthusiasts can virtually view digitally created intricate Madhubani prints from the comfort of their homes. The modern consumer expects the comforts and ease that technology provides in every field, including art. Hence, the next generation of Bachelor of Fine Arts students will have to be increasingly tech-savvy to keep up with the rising tide of digital transformation, which has swept up the art world.