Shree Lal Joshi
Shree Lal Joshi (born March 5, 1931) is a celebrated Indian artist of phad painting, a form of popular folk painting of Rajasthan.
Life
He was born on March 5, 1931 at Shahpura in Bhilwara district in a Joshi family, widely known as the traditional artists of phad painting for the last few centuries. His father Ramchandra Joshi initiated him into this traditional family-art at a very young age of 13. In the last six decades, he has displayed through his works his rich experience in different styles of folk paintings of Rajasthan. He has given new dimensions of identification and fame to the art of phad painting by developing contemporary style. He developed his own style. He discovered many new techniques and painted quite original and meaningful compositions. He is also renowned for his Wall paintings, besides Phad. He has received the National Award for his Wall Painting at Crafts Museum, New Delhi. He does wall painting in ancient fresco style. Elephant, Horses, Lions, and women with the pitchers on their heads are the usual motifs of his painting.
To begin with his experimentation, he has introduced and composed small sized phad paintings with new themes for this traditional art-form based on the episodes of the Devnarayan Mahagatha, the battle of Haldighati and the jauhar (self-immolation) of Padmini, the lives of Maharana Pratap, Prithvi Raj Chouhan, Rani Hadi, Padmini, Dhola Maru, Amar Singh Rathore, Buddha, Mahavira and the narratives from the Gitagovindam, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Kumarasambhava. Tukras (Small pieces) paintings were introduced by him. Apart from the Bhopas, the traditional phad singer-priests, buyers of his works include the art connoissers, tourists, private and Government emporia and private art galleries. His works have been also found in the collections of various museums, which include National Museum, Indira Gandhi Nationa Art Museum, National Craft Museum and Sanskriti Museum in New Delhi, Hare Krishna Museum, Kurushetra, Bhartia Lok Kala Mandal, Udaipur, Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, Linden Museum, Germany, Leforet Museum, Japan, Albert Museum, London, Landes Museum, Austria, Smith Sonian Museum, Washington, Syracuse University, USA Etenografisca Museum, Stolkholm, and also in the museums of Singapore, Germany, Netherlands and France.
His sons, Kalyan and Gopal are also notable artists of this art-form.
Awards and honors
A long association with Komal Kothari, Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan & Dr.Jyotindra Jain has always been the inspiring force that urged Shree lal Joshi to experiment & innovate in the age-old art of Phad painting. Recognition came to Shree lal Joshi’s distinct style in form of many International & National awards. He received National Award, Padma Shri award (2006) and Shilpaguru award (2007). The Government of India issued a Rs. 5/- postal stamp on his famous creation- Phad of Shri Devnarayan. Already a legend at the age of 75 years, He exudes the same passion for the art while guiding his students for 6–7 hours every day in his workshop towards perfection in the traditional art-form.
International Awards
- SAARC International Award, Islamabad
- Black Magician Award, German Festival, Stuttgart
National Awards
- National Merit Award, New Delhi, 1969,72,74
- National Award, 1984
- Silver Award, Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal,1979
- Kala Shree Award, Haryana Government,1989
- Bhuwalka Public Welfare Award, Marudhara Institute, Calcutta, 1994
- Padma Shri Award, New Delhi, 2006
- Sangeet Shyamla Award, Kolkata, 2007
- Shilpaguru Award, 2007
Documentaries on his works
- “The Folklore” by Mani Kaul
- “Phad Painting & Shri Lal Joshi” by Lalit Kala Academy
- “Painted Epics of Rajathan” by Door Darshan
- ”Twenty four Bagrwat Bros. & Lord Dev narayan” by J.C. Miller
- “Phad Paintings of Rajasthan” by BBC.