Global Pandemic and the future of Folk art: Assessing the implication of Covid-19 on Mithila Art
Suraj PRASAD, Department of Geography, University of Delhi, India, India
Popularly identified as folk art, Mithila art, a gendered art, is the artform spread from lower Terai region of Nepal in the north to R. Ganges in the south, R. Mahananda in the east and R. Gandaki in the west. The creative expression through artform of rural folk artists has always been seen as a creation of folkloric collectivity whose authenticity lies in the remoteness of space and time. Dating back to around 14th century, the evolution of Mithila art has been through wall and floor painting during domestic rites to art in paper form (as a result of commercialisation) portraying contemporary issues during globalisation. During the current phase of global pandemic of Covid-19, as the case with most of the other folk art, Mithila art has also been suffering from drawbacks of Covid-19. The paper tries not only to analyse the evolution of Mithila art over the space of Mithilanchal (region of Mithila), but also tries to assess the implication of Covid-19 on Mithila art in general and women Mithila artists, in particular. The methodology comprises the extensive literature reviews, primary surveys, questionnaire, and interviews (through email, telephonic, personal as well as in groups).
Mots clés : Global Pandemic|Covid-19|Mithila Art|Mithilanchal|Folk Art
A104243SP