Mukha Chitra : Papier-mâché

Known locally in Odisha as ‘Mukha Chitra’, Papier-mâché is a craft of colours and technique. It is made from paper pulp mixed with different natural materials. To create a papier mache artefact, the artist first carves and sculpts the same with clay and sets it out to dry. After having dried the dummy, many layers of paper strips and pieces are glued to it. After the core, and the paper bit is dried, they take out the clay dummy inside, and cover it with a layer of limestone or chalk powder to colour it white.

Once the coating is done and dried, the artist adds colours and finishing to it giving it a brilliant shiny look. While there are several decorations made from Papier Mache technique, the most popular ones are masks that the locals wear during folk dance performances. 

Raghurajpur and Danda Sahi are two popular crafts villages in close vicinity to each other where the artists have lived for ages. These artists are the finest in their work and create breathtaking artefacts. Their skills are recognized across the globe, and these artisans truly pull us closer to our roots, our land, and our soil.