Rock Art is the first visual articulation and manifestation of humankind which emanates from his sense of sight. For us it is like foot prints of human mind on the passage of time. It can thus be treated as a source of cultural communication between the past, present and future which helps to explore the source of creative energies and modes of expression of our ancestors.
To celebrate one of the earliest forms of art, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) organized 'Understanding India-China Rock Art Workshop-cum-Exhibition' in collaboration with Administration office of Helanshan Rock Art, Yinchuan City, China, Rock Art Research Association of China (RARAC) and Minzu University, China. This international event, with the participation of renowned scholars from India and China was held at New Delhi from 24th February to 27th March, 2016. The present two volumes are the outcomes of the said workshop.
The proceedings of the workshop have been published in two volumes Understanding Rock Art of India-China (I & II). These two volumes contain selected articles representing rock art from India and China and address the new ways of rock art research and documentation. The first volume on the Rock Art of India is quite significant as it is a well researched interdisciplinary effort. The data and the interpretations put forward in it is comprehensive and analytical. It not only gives a detailed analysis of rock art and related data from the site surveyed, but also provides a detailed account of its archaeological, ethnographical and geological context, flora and fauna of most of the rock art sites in India. The second volume exclusively contains enriched information about Rock Art of China.
The papers included in the present two volumes highlight the immense potential that rock art possesses in unraveling the mysteries of the past. Most of their views expressed by the scholars are appropriate and hold good promise in terms of recent trends in rock art research. These beautifully illustrated volumes aim to boost and promote rock art research. It will certainly contribute to rectify and enhance our vision of rock art.
Dr. B. L Malla, an Art Historian with specialisation in Indian art and cultural studies is presently associated with the Adi Drishya Division of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi. He has obtained his Master's degree in History from Kashmir University, Master's degree in Museology and Ph.D. in History of Arts from the Banaras Hindu University.
Dr. Malla is the author of The Sculptures of Kashmir, Vaisnava Art and Iconography of Kashmir; Trees in Indian Art, Mythology and Folklore, Conservation of Rock Art (ed.), Cosmology and Cosmic Interpretations: Shaiva Thought and Art of Kashmir, Rock Art Studies: Concept, Methodology, Context, Documentation and Convservation VoLI (ed.), Rock Art Studies: Interpretation through Multidisciplinary Approaches Vol.ll (ed.), The World of Rock Art: An Overview of the Five Continents (ed.), Global Rock Art (ed.), Rock Art of Andhra Pradesh: A New Synthesis (General ed.); Rock Art of India: Suitable Dating Techniques (ed), Glimpses of India-China Rock Art, Silent Rock's An Eloquent Testimony: Rock Art Heritage of Odisha (General ed.), Cultural Ecology: Prehistoric and Ethno-archaeological Context of Rock Art in North-Eastern and Other Indian States (General ed.) and T-T-21Trff 0(11 (114Nct)). Besides a number of research articles published in reputed professional journals, he has also participated in many national and international conferences/workshops both in India and abroad. Dr. Malla has widely travelled in India, France, Italy, Iran and China in connection with his field studies and conferences. His area of interest is both classical and vernacular traditions. He has been associated with IGNCA-UNESCO-UNDP project on Village India i.e. "Identification and Enhancement of India's Cultural Heritage: An Internal Necessity for the Management of Development".
Currently, Dr. Malla is engaged in documentation, ecological conservation and ethno-archaeological study and survey of Indian Rock Art; and also in Himalayan Studies.
The beginning of the Indian and Chinese civilisations seems somewhat similar. Rock art is one of the greatest art treasures of these two countries. Humans have expressed great creativity in the form of art and the first stirrings of man's natural imagination perhaps manifested itself as rock art. Rock art is a creative and pro-active process that influences people's thinking. It involves the deliberate construction of representations and reflects a human tendency to express a relationship to the world and nature in one way or the other. The evidence of rock art can be traced back to the prehistoric period.
The present two volumes Understanding Rock Art of India-China: Rock Art of India (Vol. I) and Understanding Rock Art of India-China: Rock Art of China (Vol. II) are outcomes of the India-China Rock Art Workshop-cum-Exhibition held under the auspices of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi from 24th - 26th February, 2016. Along with this event, an impressive and rich exhibition on the 'Rock Art of India and China' was displayed at IGNCA from 24th February to 27th March, 2016. Both these events were of great interest and were academically rewarding, not only for scholars but also for the general public.
The present two publications highlight the importance of rock art in archaeological, ethnographical and tribal life. These volumes also give an account of the status of the research and documentation of rock art in both the countries. I am confident that these two publications will enrich the knowledge of rock art and generate better understanding of the subject among scholars, researchers and the general public in both countries. These comprehensive and beautifully illustrated volumes will be the 18th and 19th publications under the IGNCA's Rock Art Series.
I congratulate Dr. Bansi Lal Malla, the editor, and his young and devoted team for their commendable efforts in bringing out these two volumes. I trust that these publications will achieve the objective of enhancing and promoting rock art studies at national and international levels.
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