When Arts of the Earth – Delhi’s first art gallery dedicated solely to folk and tribal art – opened in the capital last year, its director Meena Verma was sceptical about how the gallery’s ‘rustic and simple’ fare would be received by a city that is residence to celebrated artists like S.H Raza, Ram Kumar, Krishen Khanna, Satish Gujral and Rameshwar Broota among others. Fortunately for Verma, the interest in tribal and folk art seems to be growing and there is a sudden surge in urban and gallery-led initiatives to promote ethnic arts. It’s a welcome sign as tribal art is perhaps the only art form where life and creativity are inseparable. These artists have a unique sensitivity and an intense linkage with myths, legends, epics and multitudinous gods born out of dreams and fantasy. We bring to you four of such colourful collections being exhibited currently in the city.
Gond Art
@ Must Art Gallery
F-213, Lado Sarai, New Delhi
On till July 31
A brand new gallery that dedicates itself only to Gond art of Madhya Pradesh – that has remained confined to museums till now – has come up in the art lane of Lado Sarai this month. “Through my numerous travels in central India, I collected a lot of Gond art. We have a huge collection of Gond paper drawings and canvases in our new gallery,” says Tulika Kedia of Must Art Gallery.
The artists used to initially paint on their mud walls but more than a decade ago, renowned artist J. Swaminathan brought one of them – Jangarh Singh Shyam – to the city and gave him paper and canvas to work on. The rest, as they say, is history. The gallery sells contemporary Gond art comprising of some exquisite paper works and canvases both in black and white and colour. The artists represented in the show are some the most well known practitioners of Gond art – Durga Bai Vyam, Ram Singh Urveti, Bhajju Shivam, Nankusiya Shyam and Japani Shyam. Most of these artists belong to the extended family of the best known Gond artist till date, Jangarh Singh Shyam (1962-2001). The art on display is affordable and in the range of Rs 3000 to Rs 2 lakh.
From Maithili to Madhubani
@ Arts of The Earth
F-213A, Lado Sarai, New Delhi
On till July 9
This is a must-visit show that brings Madhubani paintings from Bihar’s well known art hinterland. Ancient Videha or Mithila, supposedly the birth place of Sita, is situated in Northern Bihar. Within this area, a rich tradition of domestic ritual paintings was practiced from ancient times and was called Maithili paintings after the region. Eventually the practice waned, and it was only in 1967-68, that a revival of this ancient art form took place. Late L. N. Mishra came to the rescue of these artisans who were then trained to paint on cloth and paper. Since this was mainly concentrated around the Madhubani district of Bihar, they came to be popularly known as Madhubani paintings.
Madhubani literally means a forest of honey. Figures from mythology, especially Hindu deities such as Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Durga and Lakshmi find centrestage, while floral and geometrical motifs inspired by nature or court and wedding scenes are used to fill up the gaps. The artists still make their own colours – black is obtained by mixing soot with cow dung, yellow from turmeric or pollen or lime and the milk of banyan leaves, blue from indigo, red from the kusum flower juice or red sandalwood, green from the leaves of the wood apple tree, white from rice powder and orange from palash flowers.
Vernacular in the Contemporary – Part 2
@ Devi Art Foundation
Sector 44, Gurgaon
On till July 7
Curated by Annapurana Garmela of Bangalore’s Jackfruit Research and Design, this show is a comprehensive look at how Indian ethnic art is staying in touch with the changing times. There is tattoo art by Shanti Bai who belongs to the Godhana community of tattoo artists of Madhya Pradesh, works by Sonsay Kashyap, a Bastar based wood carver who has been making household items for utilitarian as well as ritual purposes for the last 25 years and Warli art by Amit Mahadev Dombre.
In the second edition of this show, the curator has chosen projects in which artists are concerned with working, not just with the world outside their workshop or studio, but are now at a stage in their life or career where they are reflecting on the history of their art form, their artistic community and their personal career as an artist. The exhibition features the works of approximately forty-five artists who practice a range of paintings and sculptures. Most have gained their artistic training within the family or community but today seek to explore and stretch their practice beyond their indigenous, conventional styles.
Museum Collection
@ Museum of Folk & Tribal Art
Sector 4, Urban Estate, Gurgaon
Ongoing
This museum, an undiscovered jewel tucked away in Gurgaon, houses one of the most distinctive collections of Indian folk, tribal and neglected art. Started by K.C. Aryan, a noted art historian, painter and sculptor, the space is replete with a collection that takes you to every nook and corner of the country and dazzles you with its diversity. There is woodcraft, tribal jewellery, iron vessels, religious art objects, terracotta products, phulkari from Punjab, kantha from Bengal, lithographs from Amritsar, over two hundred Shiva heads and a large number of mukhalingas from Karnataka. Keep a full day at hand if you want to do justice to this collection.