Finding the Common Thread of Cultural Existence between Kalamkari Art and Totem Poles

In the urban jungle of skyscrapers and flyovers, one of the most often missed yet critical elements is the trees around us. Remember that one tall tree standing somewhat alone on your way to work, by the bus stop, or near your parking lot? Don’t you ever wonder since when that tree has been standing there, its roots entangled deep inside the soil? 

Well, we might not have had the privilege to stop and wonder but Gurappa Chetty saw the importance of the tree’s anatomy and he showed it to us in his famous Kalamkari painting, “Tree of Life”. Through his intricate brushstrokes and vibrant colors, Chetty immortalized the essence of the majestic tree, rooted firmly in the earth and reaching towards the sky. 

Wait, did I pull the thread too hard on this analogy? Hear me out then. 

When you spend almost two decades of your life in a place you call home and suddenly one day, you’re continents away from that home, these self-reflections start coming easy. India is where I grew up, learned my language, discovered my style of art; Canada is where I am right now, still growing up, learning about the languages of other people and discovering that the art I found solace isn’t really so different, no matter how many continents I cross. 

So when that early morning bus was taking some time to come, I fixed my gaze on a tree reminiscent of Chetty's masterpiece. At the heart of the painting is a magnificent tree, its branches reaching towards the heavens, while its roots dig deep into the earth below. The tree is populated with birds, peacocks, per se, and some of the most intricately drawn foliage spread across. 

And this is not just another painting, it is Kalamkari art, an ancient form of fabric art. Gurappa Chetty comes from a lineage of Kalamkari artists; the tree, thus, is also a testament to his familial tradition of painting on fabric. 

Coming back to the story… 

Beside that tree was an enormous electric pole on which a little poster was stuck. I had never seen what was there in the image. After some research, I found out that it was a picture of a Totem pole, the art of carving that depicts stories of lineage, ancestral wisdom and spiritual teachings in some Indigenous regions of Canada. Each figure depicted on the totem pole represents a connection to the earth, the animals, and the spirits that inhabit the natural world.

At first glance, the totem poles and the "Tree of Life" painting may seem worlds apart, each rooted in its own cultural tradition and symbolism. Yet, upon closer inspection, the parallels between these two sacred symbols become clear, a deeper connection transcends geographical boundaries and cultural divides. 

The connection goes beyond and into the psychology of colours too. Both artworks, surprisingly, have similar colour palettes featuring earthy tones like browns, greens, and ochres. Bolder illustrations see several hues of red, blue, green, and yellow, each characterized by the emotion they convey. For instance, the lower branches of the Tree of Life have more red tones, symbolizing strength and vitality whereas the yellow tones of the leaves above show life and prosperity. 

And as Gurappa Chetty was painting on prepared cloth, someone was carving a totem pole. These creations remind me that art never just belonged on paper, it was meant to be on everything that surrounds us, for everything to have a reflection of our identity, culture and tradition. And as we keep attempting to pull the strings of our lives, let us stop and stare at some trees, some paintings and the little things that enrich our lives in ways we often ignore.