A Study of Kinetic Aesthetics in Flexible Brass Fish Form of Belaguntha

The Flexible Brass Craft of Belaguntha is one among such living legacies of India. Similar to Leonardo da Vinci in Italy, who pioneered the aerial-biophilic explorations during the 14^th century CE, Bindhaniratn Bhikari Maharana in India pioneered the aquatic-biophilic explorations during 16^th century CE – as evident by a Royal Tambrapatra (copperplate) Award, issued by the then king of Ghumusar Kingdom, his highness king Krushna Deb Bhanja, with the title of “Bindhaniratn”. The tendency to bring harmless metaphoric biological forms into human habitation, to fulfil their desire to remain close to Mother Nature, is biophilia. The real-natural life-like metaphoric physical and movement similarities, demonstrated by a flexible brass craft product within the three-dimensional space of human habitation, uniquely justify the craft’s existence and professional legacy for centuries. This craft involves highly detailed, structured aquatic-observational intelligence; modular craftsmanship with an extreme degree of manual precision; and product-materialization, without using any modern, legally permitted, mechanically or electrically operated hand-held machines for craftsmanship. Thus, the end-products are unparalleled outcomes in themselves. Currently, flexible brass artisans craft various forms, e.g., Fishes, Lobsters, and snakes, with surface, three-dimensional, and scale alterations. Interestingly, artisans reported that they also craft tortoises, crocodiles, and other aquatic forms upon specific orders. Craft is an excellent example of Kinetic Aesthetics. Artisans are socially belonging to the Kansari or Brazier community. This is a craft-based analogical case study. This paper aims to identify and analyze key aesthetic elements inherent in an existing biophilic Flexible Brass Fish form, through the lens of Shadang theory in the Kamasutra. As no previously published document encompassing a comparative study of the flexible brass craft of Belaguntha, in alignment with Indian aesthetic theories, has been found, this paper could be treated as a firsthand document.

Keywords: Flexible Brass Craft of Belaguntha, Aesthetics in Aquatic Biophilism, Kinetic Aesthetics in Flexible Brass Craft, Sadang or Shadang Theory in Kamasutra, Indigenous Brass Handcrafts of India, Handicrafts Invented in India.