REPRESENTATION OF ANIMAL MOTIFS IN INDIAN ART: AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

The relation between human and animals and its association in our daily activity is unavoidable. From its representation as a visual element in calendar art to the logo design for a brand, animals are the most viewed object in literary and art works. They play a very important role in understating the ecological efficacies to create an organised equilibrium in the nature. The notion of adopting animals as visual images has age old tradition in Indian mythology in prominent, which enriches the sacred texts of Hindu beliefs with narratives of greater wisdom and values through the characters like Hanuman-Monkey God as one of such portrayal. The projections of presenting animal motifs in our art and culture infuse a sense of respect for the animals which crowns the Indian Art tradition from ancient to present time. The paper explores the presence of animals as visual motifs in the chronological development of Indian art in understanding the role of animals in our culture and tradition.