|
|
KUNDAL.
The fine arts of Tajikistan experiences the process of ornamentalization. The figure losing the meaning of independent artistic image becomes the element of ornamental composition where flower and geometrical motives become highly developed. Thus at the end of XIV≈ early XV centuries the ornamental technique kundal starts to develop. It first appeared as polychromy painting made by glue paints with golden relief details of ornaments. The relief is made of local clay. This technique was very difficult and required much time: orange-red relief is made by a brush in several layers. Only natural paints were used: e.g. blue paint was made of powdered lazurite.
Kundal represented a relief picture comprising flower forms and writings, was covered with gold, the background was made by blue (lapis-lazuli) color, flowers and ornaments - by dark-red, green, pink, light-blue, lilac and white colors. The ornament was very diverse and rich. The contour lines of the flower ornament was marked by brown color.
Picturesque plastic painting kundal means laying paints with gold and silver covers on the relief clay basis, and was used in architecture in XVII century. A vivid example of kundal art is medrese Tillya-Kari (XVII century) that acquired the name ⌠Gild■ thank to the indoor dome hall decorated by kundal painting.
This tradition was further continued in XIX-XX centuries. Some craftsmen preferred making the ornament on wet clay by stamps or modelling. Elements of these ancient traditions of domestic and architectural ceramics can be met in modern decorative applied art of Tajik people. There cannot be met pictures of humans, but pictures of animals and landscapes could sometimes be met.
The technique and technology of kundal painting was further continued in the art of national artists of Tajikistan (л.Soliev, л.Olimov, ч.Raupov and their students).
Nowadays kundal painting is widely used by Tajik artists. Only the technique of painting has changed. The basis made of flattering implemented on a cloth is covered by cement with clay, then it is painted with decorative ornaments with use of gold and various paints.
During the recent two years at the art exhibitions there were exhibited works where such technique was used. It is important to point that if earlier only men made such works, nowadays this method is also used by women because kundal is a delicate work, as well as work of jeweler, and women can easier do this work using kundal painting technique.
|
|
