Digital Stamping of Kalamkari Designs with Scratch

Target Audience:

Students from 5th to 10th grade. Suitable for schools, learning centres, and cultural organizations.

Objective:

Students will explore the artistic and cultural significance of Kalamkari, a traditional Indian textile printing technique, by creating their own designs and digitizing them through coding. This hands-on activity will enhance their artistic, mathematical, and computational thinking skills while incorporating the principles of Culturally Relevant Computing (CRC). By linking traditional artistic practices with digital tools, students will gain a deeper understanding of both heritage art and modern technology.

1. Introduction (15 minutes)

Materials Needed: Images of Kalamkari designs, projector, printed examples.

Begin with a short presentation on Kalamkari, explaining that it is a traditional Indian art form that involves creating intricate patterns on fabric using hand-painting or block-printing techniques. Discuss its historical significance, how it was traditionally used for storytelling, and how it continues to be a vibrant art form today. Highlight the artistic and mathematical principles involved, such as symmetry, repetition, and the use of natural dyes. Show real-life examples and invite students to share if they have seen or worn Kalamkari designs before.

2. Hands-on Kalamkari Design (30 minutes)

Materials Needed: Paper, pencils, markers or colored paints.

Divide students into small groups and provide each group with materials to design their own Kalamkari-inspired pattern. Encourage them to work collaboratively, brainstorming ideas that reflect nature, mythology, or geometric motifs, which are common in Kalamkari. Once their design is finalized, they will outline and fill it with details, considering symmetry and repetition in their composition. Ensure that all team members contribute to the design and execution.

3. Digital Stamping and Animation (45 minutes)

Materials Needed: Tablets, Scratch, Internet access (if needed).

Each group photographs their Kalamkari design using a tablet and uploads the image as a background in Scratch. Guide students in using digital tools to animate and stamp their design across the screen. Assist them in coding:

• Loops to create repetitive stamping effects.

• XY coordinates to control placement and movement.

• Pen Extension to be able to use the Stamp instruction.

• Conditional statements to make interactive visual effects.

Encourage students to go beyond static designs by incorporating storytelling elements, such as animating a character wearing their Kalamkari pattern or creating a dynamic digital saree print. Allow experimentation and problem-solving to enhance creativity and self-expression.

You can check these examples in Scratch. Please, feel free to remix:

Example 1

Example 2

4. Presentation and Reflection (20 minutes)

Materials Needed: Projector (optional).

Each group presents their digital Kalamkari animation to the class. Facilitate a discussion on the artistic and technological aspects of their work, including:

• What inspired their design?

• What challenges did they face in the digital transformation process?

• How did technology help in understanding the artistic and cultural aspects of Kalamkari?

Key Learning Outcomes

Students will develop artistic skills by creating original Kalamkari patterns, mathematical skills by understanding symmetry and repetition, and computational thinking by applying loops, sequences, and coordinates in coding.

Extensions and Variations

For advanced coding, introduce variables to create size variations and dynamic effects in animations. Encourage students to incorporate storytelling by designing animated characters that interact with their Kalamkari patterns. Foster cultural comparisons by exploring textile art traditions from other regions and comparing them to Kalamkari.

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This activity was collaboratively developed with Maria Berrocal for implementation during a research stay in South India in 2024. For more information, refer to the article: Berrocal i Arévalo, M., & Muntaner Perich, E. (2024, November 27-29). Culturally Relevant Coding: an Experience in South India. Congreso Universidad y Cooperación al Desarrollo, Alcalá de Henares, Spain. [English translation of the original paper] https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14620765.

The photos illustrating this activity were taken in September 2024 at Parikrma, Paper Crane Lab, and The Valley School in the Bangalore area, India.