Param Sandhu
21st August 2009, 05:25 PM
http://handicraft.indiamart.com/gifs/phulkari-work.jpg
Phulkari, meaning flower work, is a spectacular style of embroidery peculiar to Punjab,
and an essential part of everyday life. Almost every cermony in which women participate is given a touch of additionl colour and richness by the use of phulkari on account of its being considered auspicious
This embrodery lends itself to making large surfaces.The process is slow and laborious. The art is acquired with a great deal of effort. It has infinite patterns testifying to the creative ability of the needle-women, made up of vertical, horizontal designs. The total effect is that of florance magnificance. It is essentially a faminine craft and very domestic in all its eessential features. It is an art because of harmonious colours.
This type of embroidery is so excellently done that it is hard to distinguish between the left and right or upward and downward side. It has the look of a carpet .The patterns are not restricted or controlled, but bold, free and highly imaginative. The designs and motifs are an expression of the embroiderer’s thought and aspirations. These women can stitch a railway train, motorcar, lorry or even a rath (chariot) out of sheer curiosity. Birds, domestic and wild animals in different sizes and from different angels are common.
This handicraft did not arise out of any pure artistic motive, but mainly to satisfy domestic necessity. The inborn talent and spontaneous approch of the uneducated village women, her deft hand and resourcefulness have raised such works out of the realm of necessity into the domain of art, pleasing in colour and designs as they are. Another peculiarity of this embroidery is that no two Phulkari’s are alike.
http://www.sikhs.org/smithsonian/images/Phulkari4.jpg
Phulkari, meaning flower work, is a spectacular style of embroidery peculiar to Punjab,
and an essential part of everyday life. Almost every cermony in which women participate is given a touch of additionl colour and richness by the use of phulkari on account of its being considered auspicious
This embrodery lends itself to making large surfaces.The process is slow and laborious. The art is acquired with a great deal of effort. It has infinite patterns testifying to the creative ability of the needle-women, made up of vertical, horizontal designs. The total effect is that of florance magnificance. It is essentially a faminine craft and very domestic in all its eessential features. It is an art because of harmonious colours.
This type of embroidery is so excellently done that it is hard to distinguish between the left and right or upward and downward side. It has the look of a carpet .The patterns are not restricted or controlled, but bold, free and highly imaginative. The designs and motifs are an expression of the embroiderer’s thought and aspirations. These women can stitch a railway train, motorcar, lorry or even a rath (chariot) out of sheer curiosity. Birds, domestic and wild animals in different sizes and from different angels are common.
This handicraft did not arise out of any pure artistic motive, but mainly to satisfy domestic necessity. The inborn talent and spontaneous approch of the uneducated village women, her deft hand and resourcefulness have raised such works out of the realm of necessity into the domain of art, pleasing in colour and designs as they are. Another peculiarity of this embroidery is that no two Phulkari’s are alike.
http://www.sikhs.org/smithsonian/images/Phulkari4.jpg