2.) A walk through Paper Mache...

An introduction to the
world of Paper Mache.

Hello everyone.. This is Shivangkita and I am back with a new post. As I mentioned in my previous blog, today I am going to share with you a brief about Paper Mache.

If you remember somewhere in my last post I'd mentioned that the craft is from Persia but it started being raised and practiced in Kahsmir.

There are a few websites which might tell you differently about the origin of Paper Mache like it was first invented in China as its the country that first invented paper and to beleive the sources the people in China used paper to make helmets and some other products which they hardend by applying many layers of Laquer (a liquid made of shellac dissolved in alcohol, or of synthetic substances, that dries to form a hard protective coating for wood, metal, etc.)

But while doing my research and also in a conversation with a craftsmen I found out that it is primarily beleived that the craft was born in Persia and raised in Kashmir. So people next time when anybody ask you be sure that It did not originate in any other place but Persia first.

So moving on ti it's proper definition,The amazing transformation of waste paper into beautiful artifacts done in the decorative beauty to outshine the very essence of colors is what Paper Mache is all about. Papier Mache or Paper Mache is derived from French meaning 'chewed paper'. Paper Mache is a composite material consisting of paper pulp reinforced with some adhesive which hardens upon drying and then is painted upon.

Mir Syed Ali Hamdani

Paper Mache was introduced in Kashmir by the Persian Mystic Mir Syed Ali Hamdani, popularly known as Shah-i-Hamdan in Kashmir. It is believed that during his visit to Kashmir, the Shah was accompanied by a host of craftsmen who were favored by the local court of the Sultan of Kashmir, Zain-ul-Abidin. Gradually the art and craft that was ancestral to these artisans from Persia and Central Asia started to flourish in the vale of Kashmir. And with time the artisans of Kashmir gave this art their own touch which further gained them a lot of appreciation and admiration.

So this how Paper Mache came to being and it all started and gradually spread to rest parts of India.

In my next blog I'll come with more details on the tools and techniques till then have good time and do not forget to keep a track! thank you buhbye! :)

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5.) Naqashi Designs and Motives

Hello Everyone,Its been quite a few days since I've posted! In my last post I said I am going to come up with an important characteristic. So today I would like to write about Naqashi designs and Motives that are very famous and almost seen on a lot of Paper Mache products. Do you guys remember that in my very first post i'd been saying that Paper Mache products seemed interesting to me because they have a story to it and has a theme? Let me tell you these motives or designs play a very essential role in giving a Paper Mache product its traditional look. Other products which are Paper Mached and dose not have these motives or designs painted on them using the particular colours can not claim to be a part true traditional Paper Mache product. Here lies the value and speciality of the craft. The Naqash wile painting has to keep in mind the origin of the craft in order to bring forth its true esssence to the world and custoners. Naqashi Designs and Motifs: • Gul-...

3.) The Making: PROCESS 1

Hello guys, so by now I think Paper Mache has become quite familiar with you all though we haven't yet really touched its true essence . The process of making Paper Mache is quite simple but if we go to its roots the traditional way of creating a Paper Mache product is a little differently done. Today I am going to write on that, so I hope you guys like it! :) So yeah lets get started... MAKING OF PAPER MACHE:- The humble journey of any beautiful Paper Mache product involves two simple procedures:- Sakhtsazi and Naqashi . Sakhtsazi involves fashioning the base product from the pulp of paper into the desired form while Naqashi is the painting process done over it. SAKHTSAZI: The paper pulp is soaked into large tanks of water for three to four days and is then pounded in a stone mortar (Kanz) with a wooden pestle (Muhul) for a uniform consistency. This paper pulp is then left to sun-dry which is then mixed with a local adhesive known as 'Atij'-a kind of glue ma...

4.) The Making-PROCESS 2

Hey Guys! Hope you all keeping fine, today we are going to know more about the technique of creating a good beautiful Paper Mache product. People who are new to my blog are requested to check the previous ones so as to know what exactly I am talking about. Anyways, before I begin today I would like to share something with all of you. As I already said 'Paper Mache' is my research topic for the assignment that I have been given from my institution. So adding up to that I have been told to make a Visual Diary ( A diary through which I have to depict my topic with help of visuals that are related to it) . Thus, I would like to share a few pages of my Diary with you. But before that would continue with the second important process to make Paper Mache i.e, Naqashi: The object when it first reaches the Naqash is covered with a thin paper strips of butter paper pasted on the object by means of glue. This thin layer acts as barrier between the plaster covering the objec...

PAPIER MACHE by SHIVANGKITA

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