Deepavali in new colours: How Singapore’s rangoli artists are adapting an old craft

Singapore’s Deepavali rangoli artists are adapting the traditional craft with new techniques and technology, hoping to keep it relevant and encourage younger people to learn it. Artist Vijaya Mohan says digital tools, and potentially AI, can help introduce people to rangoli while preserving its cultural roots.

Mohan, 67, learnt the art from her mother at five and has practised it for more than six decades. In 2003, she created a 2,756 sq ft rangoli in Singapore, earning a Guinness World Record; she has also set more than 50 Singapore records. Her interactive installation featured about 200 designs, and she hopes to use digital rangoli to draw students towards making traditional designs.