There has long been the thought that traditional art is dying slowly, without a movement or an effort to either revive or just preserve it. In that light, the efforts of the Charles Correa Foundation, to preserve an old architectural art form called Kaavi, is a breath of fresh air.
Kaavi is the art of etching on the walls of religious structures and houses. It can be found across the State in temples and houses, which the Foundation will no doubt work to document and create a database. Around 21 temples and four houses have been identified so far; the search is on to find more. The art involves plastering the wall with lime, etching the design and then filling the etching with charcoal, a binding agent and the all-important kaav, a fine red paste made up of soil.
What will help, in order to identify this art form in yet to be discovered places, is to sensitise the people to this art form. There will be people who can work to educate people on how to preserve it for now. The fact that no artists exist who can create Kaavi points to the near extinction of the art, but there is still hope. If the Charles Correa Foundation can preserve this art, and then find ways to revive it, it could go a long way in setting a template for saving Goa’s traditional arts and crafts.
