Osian's Auction Catalogue Indian Antiquities and Modern and Contemporary Fine Arts | June 2015

ELEMENTAL ORIGIN OF DECORATIVE FORMS – NANDALAL BOSE “In these notes on ornamental art I have tried to show, so far, how the forms of natural objects … which have been used in our country for the purposes of decorative designing, could be reduced to certain typical shapes; adding the caution, however, that a mechanical insistance on these would tend to restrict creative variety, for the maintaining of which an everfresh study of nature is always needed. ... it has seemed to me that the various decorative designs may claim as their fundamental basis the forms of the Buddhist symbols for the five elements: earth, water, fire, air and sky. I now proceed to explain and illustrate my idea. Earth Fire Air ...Second Element:Water.The symbol for this is a sphere (in two dimensions, a circle). water, unsupported, tens to form spherical drops. Its shape depends on external containers or resistances. Its eddies due to contacts with earth are circular. The impact on it of air gives rise to wave forms. Being heavy as well as fluid, its lines of motion tend downward. All the forms so arising are to be found in scroll work. Third Element: Fire.The symbol is a cone, or triangle standing on its base, point upwards.This represents the shape of an undisturbed flame. its interaction with air results in waves and eddies; but as fire, unlike water, is devoid of weight, the lines of these have an upward tendency. Fourth Element: Air.The symbol is a crescent, emblematic of the forms created by the motion over earth and water. It is fluid, but being invisible, it can only manifest form throughits action on sand, dust, water, vapours etcetera. Its eddies and waves are prominently displayed in cloud shapes. Ascending spirals are characteristic of its lightness. Fifth Element: Sky.The symbol is an egg-shell in shape - vaulted in each direction.The sky represents space itself, with no form of its own; but being the condition of every form, is thus fittingly symbolised by a vault-like cavity.The spaces, within and around the lines of a design, are as necessary parts of its form as are the lines themselves, and find their prototype in this element.” On Art; pp.31-34. Water Reprinted in L.P. Sihare’s Essay - ‘Nandalal Bose: His Aesthetic Percepts and Styles, A Few Problems’. Rpt. in Nandalal Bose (1882-1966): NGMA Centenary Solo ExC.1982; pp.40-41. 66