The Female Legacy Project: A Cultural Tapestry of Women Voice in Art

For centuries, thread has been a tool for stitching, mend, daran, ornate and making. We female artists are like personal threads in the clothes of a society’s culture – seen but not noticed. But once you notice us, you will see us everywhere. This message at the entrance of the ongoing exhibition called Women’s Legacy Project (TFLP) presents the subject and intention of the event and is a recast of the stories.

The exhibition focuses on three women: Usha Rani, a kattikkutu artist, Sethlasmi, a shadow puppet artist, and Narathki Natraj, a Bharatanatyam artist. The exhibition detects these three female artists, their influences, motivations and the lives and struggles of those who supported them.

S. Sethhalkshmi | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The then Director of the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) Y Nayudamma offered a sethlakasi job in the institute after watching a demonstration at the museum theater, as he wanted people to understand the cultural associations of leather through puppets. Sethlasmi resided with a family of puppets in Kakinada, and was trained by his mother uncle MV Ramanamurthy. She came to Chennai in 1954 at the age of nine, as well as her troupe for a show in the island ground, and soon made the city her home.

Narathki Nataraja | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Although she never went to school, it was Usha’s deep sense of observation and had a notable ability to remember songs and dialogues that helped her to make her career. She was known for portraying Kaiki’s character, RamayanaShe could keep the audience in mind when she performed. Nevertheless, the world she referred only to her NadakkariAnd nothing more than this.

For Narathki Nataraja, there was a transgender Bharatanatyam artist, Shakti Bhaskar, a transgender, an enthusiastic cheerleider. KP Kitak Pillai, a descendant of the famous Tanjor Quartet, took him as his disciple in Tanjavur and named Narathki. For decades, Narathki suffered several rejection and upheaval in the form of a transvuman. In 2019, the biggest moment of his life came when he was honored with Padma Shri.

Parallel to the exhibition, 34 -year -old kattikuthu artist Thilagavati Palani conducted a Kuthu makeup workshop. At the age of 11, he was started in art by his uncle Munuswamy, later he took formal training in Kattikutu Gurukulam under P. Rajagopal. “Each of us had to read, write, sing, dress, design, play any one musical instrument and make up. The artists would have to learn to apply makeup for themselves, and also make costumes and wooden items,” says Thilagavati.

Thilgavati Palani | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“Our makeup should be loud, bright, dramatic and exaggerated as this temple is done in the open field during festivals, usually at midnight. Rasa (Emotion) has a color, for example, aggression, anger and courage are represented with red color; For woman [characters] We use pink or yellow, and it is dark green or blue for brave characters like Krishna or Arjuna; And for neutral emotions, it is a combination of orange and yellow, ”she says.

For the first layer, they mix coconut oil and Muthuvela (A pearl white powder) and once applied evenly equally, they pull lines to pronounce features and expressions using one. Theinang kuchi (Broroomstick). For brave characters, a mustache is drawn in black, but for the villain it is attached to using a rope. Once the lines are drawn, they begin to mix the major colors in the oil and cover it gently all areas. Once the makeup is implemented, it tops the talc powder. Next, they wear the dress and finally the headgier.

Says Thilagavati, “Each circle will have only one makeup kit. Pink, orange, yellow, red, black and white colored colors, with pink recent joints. We mix two colors to indicate some characters.

@Madras, different Francase of Nungambakamkam. From April 13, from 10 am to 7 pm. SNS Arts Development Consultancy, The Kalala was presented by the Goethe-Estitute in collaboration with the collective and Alliance Frances.

Free your professional pictures from cost with the most inspiring woman of your life, April 12, from 4 pm to 7 pm. From April 12, 4 pm to 6 pm, make a piece of jewelery with a one-to-five inch image of your favorite female artist.