Gond tribal paintings are the tribal folk art painting of India. Gondi people pray to various Gods & spirits, and the depiction of their environment in the form of forests, trees, animals, birds is prominent in the paintings. Gond paintings are extremely popular among most tribes in Madhya Pradesh. Gond paintings are well-honed as an art among the Gond tribe of Mandala and are specially the wall paintings of Bundelkhand, Gondwana, Nimar and Malwa. The Gond paintings are the living expressions of the people of the tribal village that are deeply linked with their day to day lives.
Originally, Gond paintings are painted by the tribal people on the walls of their house and are not just mere decorations, but also the instant expressions of their religious sentiments and devotions. They make ground and wall their canvas and use limestone or charcoal as medium to make various decorative paintings. Themes of the Gond paintings- tribal folk art painting- are based on the local festivals like Karwa Chauth, Deepawali, Ahoi Ashtami, Nag Panchmi, Sanjhi etc. Horses, elephants, tigers, birds, gods, men and objects of daily life are painted in bright and multicolored hues. Tribal Gond paintings are done by the tribal women of the village using simple homemade colors.
Such is the popularity of the tribal Gond paintings that in the Gondwana region, the Gond and the Pardhan tribes have organized and impressed the audiences at exhibitions in Japan, France, Australia and other countries.
Recently, the Gondi artists have started painting on canvas or paper.
Gond paintings use a technique of creating textures by pattern. The artist starts with an outline, which is then filled with block colours. This is left to dry, then elaborate patterning is painted on top, which gives the designs their distinct three-dimensional quality. The artist has to be very precise and the patterning process is very time consuming.
The artists reflect their perception of life through these freehand paintings. For wall paintings, mud plaster base is used over which linear patterns are etched with the fingers.
In Gond tribes, the ground and walls may be used as canvas while limestone and charcoal are used as mediums to make various decorative paintings for their houses. These paintings are not restricted to paper and do not entirely depend on synthetic colors.
Gond paintings have numerous themes including folk stories, nature, religion etc. The paintings could be flamboyant and colorful or could be simple and sophisticated in black and white. Though the style is similar, each painting has individuality in expression and interpretation.
Gond paintings bear a remarkable likeness to Australian aboriginal art. In both these artforms, the brush moves as dots or lines as fillers.
The Gond style of painting would not look out of place in a modern art gallery. It is hard to imagine how these psychedelic images are inspired in community that has had no exposure to the development of modern art.
The artists reflect their perception of life through these freehand paintings. For wall paintings, mud plaster base is used over which linear patterns are etched with the fingers.
In Gond tribes, the ground and walls may be used as canvas while limestone and charcoal are used as mediums to make various decorative paintings for their houses. These paintings are not restricted to paper and do not entirely depend on synthetic colors.
Gond paintings have numerous themes including folk stories, nature, religion etc. The paintings could be flamboyant and colorful or could be simple and sophisticated in black and white. Though the style is similar, each painting has individuality in expression and interpretation.
Gond paintings bear a remarkable likeness to Australian aboriginal art. In both these artforms, the brush moves as dots or lines as fillers.
The Gond style of painting would not look out of place in a modern art gallery. It is hard to imagine how these psychedelic images are inspired in community that has had no exposure to the development of modern art.
What's more???
Language of the soul is expressed in the brilliant hues of Gondi art. Its'subliminal eloquence is voiced in the myriad interpretation of the Gondi artists defining signature styles. These signature styles are the essence of this tribal art form and are intrinsically used to fill the surface of their decorative patterns and motifs. The allusiveness and individualism of each Gond artist is defined by these signature styles.
The Gond tribal community is one of the central India's largest indigenous communities and their art is an expression of their everyday quest for life. The Gond art rendezvous with the belief that"viewing a good image begets good luck". This inherent belief led the Gonds to decorating their houses andthe floors with traditional tattoos and motifs. However, Gondi art has since transposed onto paper and canvass with talented artists showcasing their skills.
Gond art resonates with a culturally distinctive ethos and draws inspiration from myths and legends to images of daily life, as well as it reckons with surreality of emotions, dreams, and imagination. The mythical beasts and the intricate detailing of flora and fauna are the dominant themes that have animated the lives of the Gonds for centuries and their art is used as means to record history.
The fine lines, dots and dashes of traditional Gond Pradhan motifs were introduced to the world by the late painter J.Swaminathan, who discovered a talented seventeen year old Jangarh Singh Shyam decorating the huts of Patangarh in Madhya Pradesh.Jangarh's meteoric rise to fame was marked by his acclaimed exhibitions in Paris and Tokyo and ended on a tragic note with his suicide.
The legacy of Jangarh is captured in the artistic brilliance and creativity of his family who he had mentored in this traditional art form, and thus came about the resurgence of a whole new generation of Shyams.
** More about the development of Gond Art and its rising popularity in the internation market
Jangarh Singh Shyam's proteges include the talented and internationally renowned artist Bhajju Shyam who has been credited with the critically acclaimed "The London Jungle Book".The book chronicles Bhajjus cultural experiences of London in the Gondi style of art where London is transformed into a jungle inhabited by a host of wondrous creatures.
Bhajjus work draws inspiration from nature ,folk tales and the Gond pantheon.His signature pattern is marked by a chain of linked dancers. Bhajju had his first international exposure in 1998 as a part of a group of exhibition at theMusee des arts decoratifs in Paris ,a tribute to the rich legacy of Jangarh Shyam.
The Gond artists apart from experimenting with themes have also innovated with the medium. Venkat and Rajendra have painted cells for animation film"The best of the best" produced by a Scotland based company. Rajendra's work has been exhibited at the Notingham New Art Exchange Gallery, London. Rajendra in collaboration with Venkat Shyam painted called a 70 Kg fiberglass elephant called the 'udta Haathi' ( Flying elephant) to commemorate the elephant parade mela in London.
Jangarh Singh Shyam's acrylic work was auctioned recently by Southbey's, New York auction, for an amount of Rs. 6.3 Lakhs.
Not surprisingly Gondi art with its vibrant and compelling patterns has captivated the international art market. This exposure has transformed the lives of these tribal artists, encouraging them to transcend cultural barriers and paint the language of the universe in their own special way.
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