Tradigital Art in India: When Traditional Meets the Modern

In a hybrid society that combines the best of both worlds, have you ever wondered if art could be a union between two diverse forms? Whether it’s a hybrid work culture, a fusion of music, or Indian cuisine prepped with some exotic herbs, people have always attempted to derive the best by combining two disparate elements into a unified whole.

One such new form of art that is gaining prominence in contemporary art culture is tradigital art. In this blog, we will be exploring more about tradigital art, its different types, and getting to know two major Indian artists creating tradigital art in today’s times.

What is Tradigital Art?

Tradigital art, as the name cues, is where the traditional and the digital realms of art blend, creating a hybrid art culture. To stay ahead in a world where innovation is the new norm, how do we vibe with an audience that prefers the traditional?

At the same time, how do we coax the present generation, switching to modern tools and technologies at a faster rate, to stick to the traditional norms in art? The only way out is to offer the wider audience what they seek without compromising one over the other, and that is how tradigital art came into the creative scene.

The charm of handmade sketches, when combined with the precision of digital tools, can truly culminate in something extraordinary. Whether you are in favour of the traditional or the modern, tradigital art will unfailingly steal your attention.

While oils, watercolours, or acrylics are tactile experiences in art, digital mediums offer unrivalled versatility and flexibility for endless tweaking.

Hybrid Art in Traditional and Digital Styles

To undo the disadvantages of traditional art, digital tools and technologies can come to the rescue, and vice versa. When painting or sketching on canvas, there are limited options when it comes to flexibility.

Take the same artwork, and with digital tools, you can transform or merge new ideas, as it allows a controllable workspace, suited both for experimentation and exploration. Whether it's about transitioning between the tactile and the virtual or a seamless integration of the two, an artist must use the art tools to their advantage.

Creators who dream of an art world that celebrates inclusivity of forms, techniques, and styles surely must appreciate the harmony and balance that tradigital art brings! After all, why limit creative growth when it can offer something more expansive, diverse, and holistic?

Three Types of Tradigital Art

Overlay and Trace Method:

A handmade painting that is scanned or photographed and later, is modified by digital tools, is an example of an overlay and trace method.

Simple Composite Method:

With this technique, the separate pieces of traditional art are blended or collaged to create a large-scale composition.

Composite Scanning Method:

If you are aiming to merge the traditional and the digital elements without losing out on their distinctiveness, the composite scanning method can work wonders!

Two Major Indian Tradigital Artists of Contemporary Times

Sudarshan Shaw

What happens when mud, colour pigments, and digital art combine, inspired by Indian folk art traditions? “Folkindica” by Indian artist Sudarshan Shaw, an example of a tradigital painting, has made its way to the Indian art scene.

Shaw’s passion for art, history, and nature collide in his posters, meant to decolonise Indian graphics and create a unique identity that is more accessible and relatable to the Indian population. 

Thorough research goes into each creation, but how does a tradigital artist fit all the narratives into one frame? The secret is to make them more detailed and weave them together in a way that feels fluid and natural.

An interconnected realm of art, his posters illustrate people and animals co-existing in a village, very unlike the colonial representation of nature as “far, pristine, and disconnected.”

More than reviving ancient Indian culture, his art also raises awareness about the illegal trading of wildlife and seeks to promote a healthy relationship between people and the environment.

Tiyasha Bhadra

“I see myself as an artist who not only preserves traditions but also connects the past with the present.”

With a dream to create a brand reflecting Bengal’s rich heritage, tradigital artist Tiyasha Bhadra’s artworks blend Indian folk traditions with contemporary digital techniques. Deeply influenced by the intricate patterns and vivid colours of Pattachitra, Madhubani, Warli, and Gond art, his creations express the powerful stories of cultural expression.

Drawing inspiration from multiple cultural sources and exploring a wide range of themes, his art exemplifies tradigital art where mythology and folklore combine with societal issues and personal experiences to create indigenous art that is also contemporary.

Tiyasha digitises her handmade sketches, followed by the recreation of intricate details with Procreate, replicating the hand-drawn quality with the same precision. Visually attractive and vividly traditional, the influence of Bengal’s rich heritage is abundant in his work.

Bottom Line

Tradigital art is a genre that blends the old with the new, the past with the present, and the traditional with the modern. Whether it’s Indian traditional artists like Sudarshan Shaw or Tiyasha Bhadra, both are setting examples in India’s art domain as creators who are reviving indigenous art forms via digital mediums and tools to create something relevant, yet profoundly traditional.

The blend between the two realms presents a visual narrative that stirs the collective imagination and piques the common interest in contemporary Indian culture. So, in a world of adaptation and innovation, is tradigital painting here to stay? What do you think?