Family seeks to continue gold art tradition

A family of artists in India are on the lookout for students who can carry on their tradition of gold art that worships the Hindu Lord Krishna.

Kanhai Chitrakar, the pioneer of the Kanhai school of art that continues the ancient art form of Benaras, works together with his sons to create pictures using 24-carat gold foils and pure gold ink, Zee News reports.

However, various factors have led to a dwindling popularity in the art form – namely the large investment needed, as well as the skills and patience required to produce the pictures.

Now Kanhai and his sons, Krishn and Govind, are moving from town to town to give workshops in this noble technique.

"The oldest surviving specimens of the art are illustrated manuscripts of 14th century Jain Kalpa Sutra, now housed in the national museum in New Delhi," Krishn Kanhai explains. "We certainly cannot let the exquisite form fade into oblivion again after putting in so much effort for its survival."

The family is to found a Kanhai art academy in Benaras that will teach the art form and, hopefully, guarantee its survival.

Over the last half-century, the Kanhai school of art has created more than 15,000 gold and gem paintings of Krishna.