The Muria tribe is an indigenous group living in Chhattisgarh, a center of India, and is known for its rich culture, cultural practices, and arts, among which the most prominent art form is metalwork. This is a beautiful metal sculpture representing a lady or dancer holding a dancing stick,usually seen during the dance. Here, the lost-wax process (also known as Dhokra) finds its meaning in depicting the tribal expert workmanship in metal casting and emphasizing deep cultural meanings related to dance and ritual.
Dhokra is a lost-wax casting process that begins with the creation of a wax model of the sculpture, which then gets a layer of clay coating and is fired; once the clay hardens, the entire work is inverted to allow for wax to melt away, thereby leaving behind a hollow metal sculpture. The Muria artisans achieve fine detailing in sculptures-fluid representation of the dancer's movements through this technique.
The sculpture of the woman holding a stick symbolizes the tribe's immense love for dance, an essential part of the dance ritual, in festivals, and in celebrations. Then again, beyond artistry itself, metallic sculptures witness the rich cultural heritage of the Muria Tribe. The figures often represent the grace and rhythm of dance, which is a crucial aspect of their traditions. The art of Dhokra presents one modality through which the study of dance dynamics is possible with an assertion of their cultural identity and visual representation through art.