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Gond Art Residing in the Heart of India
Posted on Jan 19, 2021 By Khushi Daryani
History of Gond Art
The word ‘Gond’ comes from the Dravidian expression ‘Kond’ which means ‘green mountain’. Gond painting is a famous folk art of the Gond tribal community of central India. It is a form of painting from folk and tribal art that is practiced by one of the largest tribes in India – the Gond – who are predominantly from Madhya Pradesh, but can also be found in pockets of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. The history of the Gond people dates nearly 1400 years. Blended with mystery, pattern, blend of colours and humour, these art pieces depict a modern psyche.
Elements of Gond Art
The untrained eye might confuse Gond with Madhubani paintings also known as Mithila art. However, Gond art has its own distinct characteristics. The paintings use vibrant colors like orange, yellow, blue and red, and are created with articulately drawn lines and dots as the method to bring it to life. With natural colors obtained from various sources like flowers, stones, etc. are used for the creation of these beautiful paintings. Over the years, the Gond artists have developed their own devices to work with various contemporary mediums and materials. They would first make dots and calculate the volume of the images. These dots would be connected to bring about an outer shape, which would then be filled with colours. As they respond to the immediate social situation and environment, each object they come across in life is aesthetically transformed. The images are tattoos or minimalist human and animal forms that include, chameleons, butterflies, elephants , cows , lions , fish , peacocks and other birds .
Although Gond paintings have been centuries-old, with the passage of time, this art form has gradually shifted from the mud walls of the houses to canvas and papers. Apart from deriving inspirations from legends and myths, these paintings majorly feature nature as their main subject. However, there are other well-depicted themes in this painting style as well, including Hindu Gods and Goddesses (especially Ganesha ), tree of life , and jungle scenes . With a variety of motifs and design patterns, these paintings have caught the eye of many including people from India, France, UK and the US.
(Gond painting by Venkat Shyam)
Stories and Symbolism in Gond Art
“Trees are very important in Gond art. For humans and animals alike – for animals and for birds too, trees are the most important – in summer, to protect them from the sun and during the monsoon season to protect from the rain. Trees provide nourishment and food too” says artist Venkat Raman Singh Shyam .
Ganja Mahua Tree : It tells the story of a Brahman (upper caste) girl and Chamar (lower caste) boy - when they fell in love, society did not accept them. So they renounced everything and went into the forest and later were reborn as Ganja and Mahua trees. Hence, it is said that Ganja and Mahua should not be drunk together as they can never be together.
Saja Tree : The Saja Tree is worshipped by the Bada Dev (Big God) and by the Gond community.
Pakri Tree : When new leaves bloom from this tree, the Gond community eats a dish (saag) made out of these leaves and this protects them from many diseases and illnesses.
Peepal Tree : The Peepal tree is where the Gods (Devtas) reside and thus the Peepal tree is considered the most important.
Tamarind Tree : The Tamarind tree also plays an important role for tribal people because they use tamarind fruit for chutney and sell the fruit for their livelihoods. Many people in the Gond community place a platform for gods or goddess under the trees.
Music in Gond Communities
In the past, Gond Artists were responsible for passing on the traditions of the Gond kings verbally through songs with a musical instrument called the ‘Bana’.
They would invoke the god Bada Dev at the Saja tree by playing the Bana and record the Gond patrons’ genealogy in song. In return, they would be offered gifts of grain, clothes and maybe even cattle or gold.
( A small snippet of Bana Player Narayandewn Tekam narrating the story of creation and Bada Dev for one of our workshops )
Similarities between Gond Art and Aboriginal Art?
“Gond is very similar to Aboriginal art because the Aborigines have their own stories like we do about creation, and they too make dashes and dots. Aboriginal art and Gond art have their connection because we are originally from the same continent of Gondwana when there were just two continents, Gondwana and Laurasia. India and Australia came from Gondwana and America came from Laurasia. The performances, dances and rituals, as well as the drink they serve, is like ours. Their surname is Maravily while ours is Maravi. I spoke at the Monash University in Melbourne and at the Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane on the theme, ‘You are my brother, in you I found myself’.” said Gond master artist Venkat Raman Singh Shyam.
The paints are usually derived naturally from objects such as charcoal, coloured soil, plant sap, mud, flowers, leaves and even cow dung. That said, due to the scarcity of natural colours, Gond artists have begun to use poster colours and use canvas to paint on. Gond paintings bear a remarkable likeness aboriginal art from Australia as both styles use dots to create the painting. Both art forms feature dots of different kinds. For aboriginal art , the dots symbolise territory and dreaming while with respect to Gond art, the shamans believe that the particles of their bodies disperse into space to join with those of the spirits and form other bodies. This is an ancestral, poetic vision of the atom, of the infinitely small joining the infinitely large.
~ by Khushi Daryani (Contributing Writer)
So then... how do I learn Gond art? Check out our Live Arts Workshop collections where we regularly conduct Gond art workshops.
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Gond Art : A Folk Art Form with Beautiful Tribal Colours, Themes, and Shapes
- Indian Folk Art
- Madhya Pradesh
The Gond tribe has its origin in Madhya Pradesh , and derived its name from the word ‘Kond’, meaning “green mountain”. Although Gond art of this tribe is considered to be primarily from Madhya Pradesh, it is also popular in regions like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra , Chhattisgarh, and Odisha . The government of India has taken several steps to preserve the art of the Gond tribe. These measures are not taken only to empower the artisans economically, but also for the sake of the future generation’s artistic fulfilment. The efforts resulted in more popularity of Gond art and paintings. Now, these folk art works are put on display with pride in various international exhibitions. They also bring in thousands of rupees.
The Rich History of Gond Art
Amongst the Gond people, painting and other forms of expressive art are a popular and traditional practice. Dating back to more than 1400 years ago, the Gond tribe has painted and carved art on the walls of caves which all belong to the Mesolithic Period. The Gonds believe that viewing good images brought in good luck. Thus, traditionally, they painted motifs, tattoos, and images on the floors and walls of their houses. Their paintings are also a means to record and pass on historical knowledge and teachings.
The Pardhan Gonds are extremely skilled artists who are renowned for their paintings and music. In the 1980s, the director of the Bharat Bhavan Museum in Bhopal, J. Swaminathan wanted to exhibit urban and tribal art together. For this purpose, he sent some of his students to various villages in the Dindori district in search of artists. One of them was the exceptional painter Jangarh Singh Shyam, a Pardhan Gond. He was the first tribal artist to use canvas and paper for his artwork.
The Natural Themes of Gond Art
The Gond people believe that every element of nature, be it the hills, the sky or the trees, is inhabited by a spirit. Recreating the forms of nature therefore is done with reverence and worship of their sacred essence. These paintings serve as examples of the Gond tribe’s close connection to the spirit of nature. Gond paintings take inspiration from the myths and legends of India. They also depict scenes from the contemporary life of the people. A detailed narrative portrays abstract concepts encompassing emotions, dreams, and imaginative constructs. Since many of the Pardhan Gonds are accomplished musicians, their paintings often portray the stories of their songs.
The most significant subjects explored and depicted in Gond paintings include birds, animals, and mythical beasts. Since the paintings also derive themes from the daily lives of the people, the Mahua Tree is an important subject. Considered as the Tree of Life, the flowers, fruits, seeds, and leaves from the Mahua tree serve many purposes for the tribe. Urban themes depict modern subjects such as technology and automobiles. Folktales and local deities like Phulvari Devi, Jalharin Devi, and Marahi Devi are of cultural importance.
The Exquisite Shapes of Gond Art
The style that is incorporated takes care that the lines, whether of the border or the interior intricacies, that create the subjects grab the attention of the viewer instantly. The dots and dashes enhance the details with exquisite brilliance that is unique to the Gond paintings. Incorporating various geometric shapes and patterns, like the ones resembling fish scales, drops of water and seed shapes flesh out the expressive value of the art. The sense of movement is established through the curves and strokes of the lines, and hence many critics best described it as ‘on line work’.
The Vivid Colours of Gond Art
The Gond paintings flourished with vivid colours, especially red, blue, yellow, and white, that serve the view with their excellent contrast. These bright paints are usually derived and extracted from organic sources such as coloured soil, charcoal, plant leaves and sap, and even cow dung. The local sand called Chui Mitti helps in the production of the yellow colour, while Gheru Mitti serves the brown colour. Charcoal provides the black colour, Hibiscus flower gives red, and plant leaves impart green.
Resembling Australian aboriginal art, the Gond paintings are usually drawn during important festivals like those of Holi and Diwali. In the modern age, one can commonly find Gond art on wooden trays, boxes, and other objects of smooth surfaces. However, they are no longer painted on walls and floors. For the sake of convenience, the artists now prefer canvas. This ease of mobility has increased purchase and exchange, thus, aiding the popularity. Today, Gond artists use poster colours and other artificial paints to put their talent into the best portrayal. Combined with this, the use of simple canvas has enhanced modern Gond paintings into more vibrancy than its traditional counterparts.
Image credits: The copyright for the images used in this article belong to their respective owners. Best known credits are given under the image. For changing the image credit or to get the image removed from Caleidoscope, please contact us.
New to me but I surmise, each image is a visualization of its living folklore, exquisite and contextual of legacies lingering. I wish to know more. Thanks.
Thanks Prakash 🙂
I want to have Gond painting on walls..pls do share some painters details in Delhi NCR regions. Parveen WhatsApp me: 9818240628
Is there black outline on objects in Gond art or any dark shade outlines there?
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Gond Painting
Gond Painting (Image: ishafoundation)
Gond paintings are a form of painting from folk and tribal art that is practiced by one of the largest tribes in India with whom it shares its name. Gond comes from the Dravidian expression, Kond which means ‘the green mountain’. While Gond paintings are considered to be from predominantly from Madhya Pradesh, it is also quite common in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh and Odisha. Gond art has become so predominant that the Government of India has stepped in to preserve their art form for future generations to enjoy.
Painting in the region has been happening for a really long time as the history of the Gond people dates nearly 1400 years previously, however, the Gond people could just be imitating their ancestors as there are cave paintings in the region that go all the way back to the Mesolithic Period. Paintings, as well as other art forms, have always been quite popular with tribal people in India, especially the Gond tribe. Even amongst the Gond people, it was most prominent among the Pardhan Gonds who were renowned for their artistic skills, be it painting or music. The Gond people have a belief that viewing a good image begets good luck. This belief led the Gond people to decorate the walls as well as the floor of their houses with traditional tattoos and motifs. Gond paintings have also been used by the Gond people as a way to record their history.
Sources of Inspiration
According to the Gond belief system, each and everything whether it is a hill, river, rock or a tree is inhabited by a spirit and, consequently, is sacred. So the Gond people paint them as a form of respect and reverence. Gond paintings are a reflection of man’s close connection with his natural surroundings. However, while a majority of Gond paintings do take inspiration from nature, it isn’t the only source of inspiration. Gond paintings can also take inspiration from myths and legends of India or alternatively, they may also showcase images from the daily lives of the tribe. It can also showcase abstract concepts like emotions, dreams and imagination.
Gond Painting (Image: ignca.nic.in)
Gond paintings can best be described as ‘on line work’. The artist makes sure to draw the inner as well as outer lines with as much care as possible so that the perfection of the lines has an immediate effect on the viewer. Lines are used in such a way that it conveys a sense of movement to the still images. Dots and dashes are added to impart a greater sense of movement and increase the amount of detail.
Another very striking facet of Gond paintings has to be the use of bright vivid colours such as white, red, blue and yellow. The paints are usually derived naturally from objects such as charcoal, coloured soil, plant sap, leaves and even cow dung. More specifically, yellow from Chui mitti which is a type of local sand, brown from Gheru mitti which is another type of sand, green is readily procured from leaves while the colour red is obtained from the Hibiscus flower.
Gond Painting (Image: deccanfootprints)
Global influences
As a result of the efforts by the Indian Government to promote and showcase the beauty of tribal art, Gond paintings have become quite popular. There have been exhibitions of Gond paintings in many parts of the world, especially in Japan. Gond paintings can sell for anywhere between INR 2,000/- and INR 2,50,000/-
Modern Innovations
Modern Gond paintings aren’t painted on walls and floors and are instead painted on canvas. This makes sure that it is not only much easier to transport, carry and hang on a wall, but the use of canvas helps the paintings to stand out much more than it would if it were made on a wall. Due to the scarcity of natural colors in the current age, Gond artists have started to use poster colours. This combined with the use of canvas has made modern Gond paintings much more vivid than its traditional counter parts.
Interesting Facts
- The Pardhan Gonds are also are accomplished singers and many paintings are visual depictions of these songs.
- Gond paintings are popularly drawn during major festivals like Holi, Diwali, etc.
- Gond paintings are of such a good quality that it isn’t uncommon for them to last 20 years or so, without any external tampering.
- It is said that Gond paintings resemble aboriginal art from Australia.
- Gond paintings have also become quite common on wooden trays, boxes and other miscellaneous objects which have helps to increase its popularity and spread awareness.
- http://theindiacrafthouse.blogspot.in/2012/01/gond-paintings-mystic-world-created-by.html
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Gond painting: tribal folk art of the gond tribe.
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About Gond Painting
Gond painting is a famous folk art of the Gond tribal community of central India. It is done to preserve and communicate the culture of the Gond tribal community . Gond tribal art includes folk dances, folk songs, and Gond paintings.
The present-day Gond paintings have evolved from Digna and Bhittichitra.
The Gonds paint Digna, a traditional geometric pattern on the walls and floors of the houses.
Bhittichitra is painted on the walls of houses, and these paintings include images of animals, plants, and trees.
Women use natural colors to paint the walls and floors of their homes.
The Gond tribe is one of the largest tribal communities in India . These tribals live in Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. The main occupation of the Gond tribe is agriculture or daily wages.
The word Gond comes from ‘Kond’ which means green mountains and tribal people are called Gondis as they live mainly in the lush green mountains of Madhya Pradesh.
The Gond tribe believes that seeing a good image brings lots of good luck to them . Hence Gond tribal paintings are made on various festivals, rituals, and ceremonies such as Diwali, Karva Chauth, Nag Panchami, birth, marriage, etc.
Traditional Art of the State of Madhya Pradesh, India
Gond painting is a traditional art of Madhya Pradesh and belongs to the Gond tribe. It is mainly done in Patangarh Village in Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh.
Gond artists make a wide variety of hand painted products and some of them are:
History and Origin of Gond Painting
In the 1980s, J Swaminathan was the director of the Bharat Bhavan Museum in Bhopal.
He wanted to exhibit urban and tribal art together. For this purpose, he sent some of his students to various villages in Dindori district in search of various tribal Gond artists.
There they found very talented young men and women. One of them was Jangarh Singh Shyam, an exceptionally talented painter.
The walls of his house were proof of his magnificent artwork and he was equally excited to come to Bhopal and try new mediums of painting.
Jangarh Singh Shyam
Shri Jangarh Singh Shyam was the first tribal artist to use canvas and paper for his artwork .
Jangarh Singh Shyam was a Pardhan Gond artist of the village Patangarh in Dindori district in Madhya Pradesh.
Pardhan Gonds are one of the subgroups of the Gond community. Pardhan Gonds are known for their artistic skills such as music, singing, painting, etc.
Jangarh Singh Shyam became famous by exhibiting his paintings in Tokyo and Paris. The Gond painting thus gained worldwide recognition and became the livelihood of many tribal families.
Gond Painting Raw Materials
Paper/canvas.
Handmade paper, canvas or even chart paper that are readily available in the market are used to make Gond paintings.
Bright colors such as red, yellow, blue, green, etc., are commonly used in Gond art. Natural colors are obtained from charcoal, colored soils, plants, leaves, cow dung, etc.
Some colors and their natural sources are mentioned below.
- Black: Black color is made from charcoal.
- Yellow: Yellow color is made from ramraj soil.
- White: White color is made from chui soil.
- Red: The red color is obtained from geru soil.
- Green: Light green color is made from cow dung and dark green color is made from bean leaves.
Gond artists are now using synthetic colors such as acrylic colors, poster colors and oil paints as they are readily available in the market.
Paintbrushes of various sizes are now used to make Gond paintings.
Gond Painting Themes & Designs
The themes and motifs of Gond painting are drawn from local flora and fauna, deities and urban culture. Gond paintings mainly depict the following subjects: –
- Pictures of peacocks, birds, crabs, mythical beasts, lizards, lions, tigers, deer, snakes, wild boars, cows, monkeys, elephants, horses, fish, etc.
- Mahua Tree as Tree of Life. Mahua flowers, fruits, seeds, and leaves are used for many purposes by the Gond tribe.
- Modern design such as airplanes, bicycles, cars, technology, etc.
- Myths, legends, and aspects of the daily life of Gond people.
- Hindu gods such as Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesha, etc.
- Local deities like Phulvari Devi (Goddess Kali), Jalharin Devi (River Goddess), Marahi Devi, etc.
The central theme of Gond paintings is nature. Gond artists portray nature in various ways in Gond paintings because they believe that the life of man and nature are interlinked.
Gond Painting Signature Patterns & Styles
A pattern is a decorative design that is repeated several times to fill an image.
Each Gond artist uses his own distinctive pattern and style to fill the images. These distinctive patterns are called signature patterns.
Some of the patterns used in Gond paintings are:
- Curved Lines
- Fish Scales
- Drops of Water
- Seed Shapes
- Geometrical Shapes, etc.
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The art of gond #handmadeinindia.
Gond art is a form of painting from folk and tribal art that is practiced by one of the largest tribes in India – the Gond – who are predominantly from Madhya Pradesh, but also can be found in pockets of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh, and Odisha. The work of Gond artists is rooted in their folk tales and culture, and thus story-telling is a strong element of every painting.
The Gond, are the largest Adivasi Community in India. They are Dravidian and their origin can be traced to the pre-Aryan era. They refer to themselves as Koi or Koiture. Their language is related to Telugu and other Dravidian languages.
Gond Art by Ramesh Tekan
Literal Definition
The word “Gond” comes from the Dravidian expression kond, meaning “the green mountain.”
Production Cluster
Gond tribe distribution across India
The history of the Gond people dates nearly 1400 years. Paintings as well as other art forms have always been quite popular with tribal people in India, especially the Gond tribe. The Gond people have a belief that viewing a good image begets good luck and they decorate their walls and the floor of their houses with traditional tattoos and motifs. Among the Gond, it is the most prominent among the Pardhan Gonds who are renowned for their artistic skills, be it painting or music. Gond paintings have also been used by the Gond people as a way to record their history.
Inspiration
According to the Gond belief system, all things are inhabited by a spirit and, consequently, are sacred. Gond paintings are a reflection of man’s close connection with his natural surroundings. While a majority of Gond paintings do take inspiration from nature, it isn’t the only source of ideas. They also turn to the myths and legends of India or showcase images from the daily lives and dreams in their art.
Gond paintings can be described as ‘on line work’. Art is created out of carefully drawn lines. Lines are used in such a way to convey a sense of movement to still images. Dots and dashes are added to impart a greater sense of movement and increase the amount of detail. Another very striking facet of Gond paintings is the use of bright vivid colours such as white, red, blue and yellow.
Gond artist at work
The paints are usually derived naturally from objects such as charcoal, coloured soil, plant sap, mud, flowers, leaves and even cow dung. That said, due to the scarcity of natural colours, Gond artists have begun to use poster colours and use canvas to paint on. Gond paintings bear a remarkable likeness aboriginal art from Australia as both styles use dots to create the painting.
A Colourful Gond Painting
Today, many talented Gond artists’ works including Suresh Kumar Dhurve’s can be seen on canvases in art galleries internationally. One of the distinctive elements is the use of signature patterns that are used to infill the larger forms on the canvas. A certain sense of balance and symmetry can be observed in the pattern used, such as spiral forms along with trees, leaves, animals and human figures. Painted in several bright colours, the placement of motifs showcasing village life and the blending of human figures with rituals and nature depict the Gond’s inherited skills and creativity.
Nav Graha (The Nine Planets) by Suresh Kumar Dharve
A Gond Art Workshop Video
This is a workshop in Bhopal India at which a group of Pardhan Gond artists worked with Leslie MacKenzie and Tara Douglas to create an animated cartoon of their own folk story.
- A gorgeous Pinterest board on Gond art.
- A beautiful gallery of Gond painting.
- Click here for a more detailed write-up on Gond Art.
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Gond Paintings - Capturing the Life and Essence of One of India's Largest Tribes
- October 03, 2016
- by Zeina Mehal
An age-old tradition that goes back hundreds of years, tribal art in India beautifully captures the lives of some of the earliest inhabitants of our country. Among these, Gond Art – the unique art form of the Gonds, one of the largest tribes in Central India, specifically in Madhya Pradesh, truly encapsulates the essence of tribal art.
Like most other tribal art, Gond art is rooted in folk tales and culture. Gond paintings depict almost every aspect of the tribe's lives. Local flora, fauna, Gods and Goddesses, celebrations, festivals, folk-tales and myths are all represented through their art, making story-telling a strong element in their paintings.
Gond art is believed to be an offering in worship of nature, based on the Gond belief that a good image ushers in good luck and helps ward off evil. The art form is characterized by an imaginative use of lines and dots, highlighting a sense of balance and symmetry. The paintings are bright and colourful, painted with natural colours derived from charcoal, soil, plant sap, leaves and cow dung.
Though Gond art has been around for hundreds of years, it was only in the 1980's that the art form gained much-deserved recognition and fame, through the discovery of Jangarh Singh Shyam, a Gond farmer and artist whose artworks received international acclaim and took him to New Delhi, New York, Paris and Tokyo for exhibitions and shows.
Shyam’s artistic brilliance was renowned. He was the first Gond artist to use acrylic on paper and canvas for his paintings, creating the school which is now known as ‘Jangarh Kalam’. His 1988 creation, Landscape with Spider, sold for $31,250 at a 2010 Sotheby's auction, the first for an Adivasi artist.
Today, the late artist’s immediate and extended family members are renowned Gond artists themselves. Though trained by Jangarh Singh Shyam, each of these artists – Nankusiya Shyam (his wife), Japani Shyam and Mayank Shyam (his children) and other family members such as Venkat Singh Shyam, Subhash Vyam, Bhajju Shyam and Durga Bai, have their own distinct artistic styles, striving to keep their traditions alive.
Traditional, aesthetic and mysterious, the ethos of Gond art lies in its ability to express the language of the tribe’s soul on walls, canvas or paper, making this ancient art form a true reflection of India’s rich artistic heritage.
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Gond paintings.
Mapping lineage is the most problematic area in folk and tribal arts because of limited availability of archival resources or objects, the inherent impermanence of the materials and methods involved in the creative process. The historical evolution of ‘Gond’, or Pardhan painting or ‘Jangarh kalam,’ has to be understood in this background. A community of around four million people spread all over central India, Gonds have a recorded history of 1400 years. The word ‘Gond’ comes from the Dravidian expression ‘Kond’ which means ‘green mountain’.
Pictorial art on walls and floors has been part of the domestic life of Gonds, specially among Pardhans since it is done with the construction and re- construction of each and every house, with local colors and materials like charcoal, coloured soil, plant sap, leaves, cow dung, lime stone powder, etc. The images are tattoos or minimalist human and animal forms. In course of time, the diminution of agricultural life and social patronage has tended to reduce the Pardhans to a state of manual labor.
In the early 1980’s, the Bharat Bhavan art centre at Bhopal in Central India was started with a vision of establishing a common space for all kinds of contemporary art practices. The modern Indian painter and activist, J. Swaminathan led this mission with a passion for bringing forth the creative expressions of the rural folk and tribal societies in India. J . Swaminathan initiated young artist groups to go into the rural interlard to explore such expressions. While traveling in village Pattangarh, a group of such artists found a brilliant wall painting done by a young manual laborer aged seventeen called Jangarh Singh Syam, who later became a legendary name in the history of Gond painting.
Jangarh Singh Syam was invited to Bharat Bhavan where his creative practice did undergo sweeping changes. His inheritance in traditional music and storytelling provided him with a vast area of narratives which he articulated and transformed into paintings. This was a rare moment in Indian Contemporary art in which new materials and tools including canvases, acrylic, oil and pen were effectively adopted by a traditional/folk artist bringing forth unforeseen results. Jangar’s works started featuring in various galleries throughout the world and were received with great enthusiasm. From mid 1980s to’95, more than a hundred painters belonging to the Pardhaan community engaged themselves in the art of painting.
A new visual vocabulary was created by these artists by giving concrete visual shapes to their myths, legends, fables, tattoos and music, which were, till then, hidden from the ‘mainstream’ society. It was a paradigm shift in culture in which the historically marginalized gained momentum and ground in the narrative space of the country, and creative energy surged with the emergence of individuality in a traditionally collective society. Images, transcribed from oral narratives took shape as birds, flying snakes or growing trees, floating to the rhythm of music in diverse innovative variations.
Over the years, the Gond artists have developed their own devices to work with various contemporary mediums and materials. They would first make dots and calculate the volume of the images. These dots would be connected to bring about an outer shape, which would then filled with colours. As they respond to the immediate social situation and environment, each object they come across in life is aesthetically transformed.
“In such circumstances there is no inhibition for the painters to conceive a contemporary air craft, train or even the panoramic view of an airport as the subject of painting. But the airport may not look like the airport in naturalistic terms, but will be an airport in pictorial terms. Here, patterns are the most powerful element used by the Gond painter as her/his pictorial identity and individual expression. For the Gond painter, patterns are organic forms, not ornamental devices as generally observed by the urban viewers of art. Macro and micro image patterns of leaves, skin and textures of trees, ears of corn, young paddy shoots, crescent moon are some of the thousands of patterns which they appropriate into the pictorial language. It is not a matter in Gond iconography if an inorganic object like airplane might contain the patterns of seeds or flowers. For them the ethos of life is a mixture of myth and reality, of organic and inorganic forms.”
Portfolio Name: Gond Paintings Source: Lalit Kala Akademi
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Indira Gandhi National Open University
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The Indian Culture Portal is a part of the National Virtual Library of India project, funded by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The portal has been created and developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. Data has been provided by organisations of the Ministry of Culture.
Gond Art: Details about Gond Tribal Art and Painting of India
29-Apr-2022
20 Views | 5 Min Read
by Pamela
____________
There are around 2500 tribes and indigenous groups that can be found in India. Many art forms, including folk and tribal art, have been influenced by the wide diversity of these groups. Warli art, Bhil and Gond art of Madhya Pradesh, Santhal art, Madhubani Paintings of Bihar, Pithoro paintings of Gujrat and Saora paintings of Odisha are some of the most well-known tribal art styles in India. These tribal art forms are ethnic and mostly practised by tribe members, and they have distinctive colourful designs that frequently depict tales and traditions of their culture, traditions, and beliefs. Here I am going to discuss Gond Tribal Art of India.
About Gond Tribe
While travelling to Mandla I got to know that Gonds are one of the largest tribal groups in the world. Not only in Madhya Pradesh they are also spreading in Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Odisha. The word Gond comes from 'Kond' which means green mountains and tribal people are called Gondis as they live mainly in the lush green mountains of Madhya Pradesh.
The tribe believes that seeing a good and happy image brings lots of good luck and positivity to them. They believe that earth, water, and air are ruled by Gods. To worship those natural calamities and gods they celebrate most festivals with songs and dances. On certain occasions, for example, with the Dandari artists, dances retell occasions from folklore. Dhulias are expert musicians and Pardhans (bards) protect legends, fantasies, and history, passing these customs on from generation to generation. Hence Gond tribal paintings are made of various festivals, rituals, and ceremonies.
About Gond Art
Gond art is a famous art of the Gond tribal community of central India which not only include painting but also include folk dances, songs, and performances. It is performed in per traditional way to preserve and communicate the culture of the Gond tribal community.
Gond painting is mostly made in Patangarh Village in the Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh.
History & Origin of Gond Painting
In the 1980s, J Swaminathan was appointed as the director of the Bharat Bhavan Museum in Bhopal.
He wanted to exhibit urban and tribal art together. For this purpose, in search of tribal art, he got to know about Jangarh Singh Shyam, an exceptionally talented painter.
The walls of his house were proof of his magnificent painting, and he was equally excited to come to Bhopal and try new mediums of art.
Shri Jangarh Singh Shyam was the first tribal artist to use canvas and paper for his artwork.
Jangarh Singh Shyam was a Pardhan Gond artist of the village Patangarh in the Dindori district in Madhya Pradesh. Pardhan Gonds are one of the subgroups of the Gond community. Pardhan Gonds are known for their artistic skills such as music, singing, painting, etc.
Jangarh Singh Shyam became famous by exhibiting his paintings in Tokyo and Paris. The Gond painting thus gained worldwide recognition and became the livelihood of many tribal families.
Gond Painting Themes & Designs
The themes and motifs of Gond painting are drawn from local flora and fauna, deities, and urban culture. The theme of paintings is mostly drawn from folktales and Gond mythology therefore these paintings are not mere decorations but also instant expressions of their religious sentiments and devotions. Gond paintings mainly depict the following subjects:
- Pictures of peacocks, birds, crabs, mythical beasts, lizards, lions, tigers, deer, snakes, wild boars, cows, monkeys, elephants, horses, fish, etc.
- Mahua Tree as Tree of Life. Mahua flowers, fruits, seeds, and leaves are used for many purposes by the Gond tribe.
- Myths, legends, and aspects of the daily life of Gond people.
- Hindu gods such as Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesha, etc.
- Local deities like Phulvari Devi (Goddess Kali), Jalharin Devi (River Goddess), Marahi Devi, etc.
The central theme of Gond paintings is nature. Gond artists portray nature in various ways in paintings because they believe that the life of man and nature are interlinked.
The use of vivid colours such as white, red, blue, and yellow to portray horses, elephants, tigers, birds, gods, men, and everyday objects is one of the most remarkable elements of Gond paintings. Objects like charcoal, coloured dirt, plant sap, leaves, and even cow dung are used to create the colours. Paintings are created by layering dots in upward, downward, and sideways directions to generate final images.
Some colours and their natural sources are mentioned below.
- Black: Black colour is made from charcoal.
- Yellow: Yellow colour is made from ramraj soil.
- White: White colour is made from chui soil.
- Red: The red colour is obtained from geru soil.
- Green: Light green colour is made from cow dung and dark green colour is made from bean leaves.
Gond artists are now using synthetic colours such as acrylic colours, poster colours and oil paints as they are readily available in the market.
The present-day Gond paintings have evolved from Digna and Bhittichitra.
- Digna, is a traditional geometric pattern on the walls and floors of the houses.
- Bhittichitra is painted on the walls of houses, and these paintings include images of animals, plants, and trees.
Each Gond artist uses his own distinctive pattern and style to fill the images. These distinctive patterns are called signature patterns.
Some of the patterns used in Gond paintings are:
- Curved Lines
- Fish Scales
- Drops of Water
- Seed Shapes
- Geometrical Shapes, etc.
Products using Gond Painting
Artisans make a wide variety of hand-painted products and some of them are:
- Dupattas & Stoles
Contemporary Modifications
Modern Gond art painting was created on canvas rather than on the walls and floors. This ensures that it is not only easier to move, carry, and hang on a hook, but also that it is much more durable.
In Bhopal State Tribal Museum, They are showcasing Gond Artwork in different forms
Their paintings have also grown quite popular on wooden trays, boxes, and other odd objects, which has helped to disseminate awareness and expand its appeal. These paintings, according to the painters, are of such high quality that they can last for up to 20 years without any external interference.
Gond arts may be inspired by Indian mythology and stories, or they may depict pictures from the tribe's daily existence.
Read here about the Major Tribals in MP.
This post is in collaboration with Times Passion Trail & MP Tourism , but the experiences and views are mine.
Written by Savita B
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Gond paintings form a mystic world that is created by dots and lines. They are a form of folk and tribal art that is practiced by one of the largest tribes in India and is predominantly centered in Madhya Pradesh, with whom it shares its name. Gond comes from the Dravidian expression , Kond, which means ‘the green mountain’.
Gond paintings can best be described as ‘on-line work’. Lines are used in such a way that it conveys a sense of movement to the still images. Dots and dashes are added to impart a greater sense of movement and to increase the amount of detail.
Artworks such as these have been done from quite some time now. They resemble aboriginal art from Australia and can sell for anywhere between INR 2,000/- and INR 2,50,000/-.
This is a simple form of painting which all of us can try. So, this is how to get started:
Materials required Pencil Brushes Oil Paints/ Watercolors Paper(Canvas/Ivory/Normal drawing paper)
Lets get started!
Step 1 Draw a rough pencil sketch.
Step 2 Use bright vivid colors to paint the sketch. Then, draw a black outline.
Step 3 With the help of lines, dots and dashes try to create a pattern or design of your own. The following patterns are frequently used.
Now, draw that pattern with paint on the painting.
Step 4 We can use different colors for detailing to create an overall effect.
So TADAA! That is going to be your mini masterpiece, ‘Gond painting’.
Sources: https://www.deccanfootprints.com/collections/gond-art https://www.utsavpedia.com/motifs-embroideries/gond-painting/
Bharathaa Chandana
February 1, 2018
November 23, 2019 at 11:00 AM
It’s very good.If any body want’s to do means it will be gives good idea.
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Gond Art and Culture Shared by Painter Vijay Shyam
What is Gond art? This conversation with Vijay gives a wonderful overview of Gond art of India from a talented practitioner. You are sure to have your senses awakened by the bright colors, lively images, and invigorating style that bring to life Gond myths, history, beliefs and community values!
Gond art of India has been practiced for more than a millennia and yet only came into the global spotlight in the past half century. Vijay Shyam is one of the eminent Gond painters, and in this interview he shares the history and culture of the Gond people and their distinctive style of painting.
I first met Vijay in August of 2019 when he introduced himself to me on LinkedIn and shared images of his work. I was impressed with his initiative; many creatives find it difficult to market themselves in their own backyard, never mind reach out to someone from another culture in a language that is not your native tongue.
With 2021 having been declared by the U.N. as the International year of the Creative Economy, People Are Culture is pleased to present its Creative Economy Spotlight series, which profiles the myriad kinds of contributors to our global creative economy. It’s a privilege to feature Vijay’s incredible talent and art form. Beyond that, Vijay can serve as an inspiration to other artists and artisans to dare to promote their work with people like me who deeply appreciate it, and will pay it forward!
Today a resident of Bhopal, Vijay learned the tradition of Gond art in his village at Patangarh, in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Located in central India, Madhya Pradesh is India's second largest state and home to the biggest population of the Gonds. With more than 11 million members, the Gonds are the biggest of India's more than 700 indigenous groups.
Vijay has been practicing Gond art for the last 20 years and got his tutelage of the art when he was very young from his brother, as well as his uncle Jangarh Singh Shyam. Jangarh was a pioneering contemporary Indian artist, whose work primarily depicted Gond deities and animals, such as tigers, deer, turtles and crocodiles. Jangarh was a mentor to many emerging Gond artists.
Family Teaches Family
Meg: Who taught you to paint?
Vijay: My first mentor was my elder brother. He is the one who taught me how to hold the brush. My elder brother was a wall painter and did the work of advertising on the walls. I used to go to work with him.
My uncle the late Jangarh Singh Shyamji was a very simple man and I worked and learnt a lot under his guidance. He knew very well which colour should be placed where which will enhance the beauty of the painting. I remember when my uncle got an opportunity to exhibit paintings in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, and we both attended the opening.
Unfortunately, my Uncle passed away in Japan under mysterious circumstances which still no one knows the reason behind. The Japan Government wanted to do the final rituals of the cremation, however my elder brother Shree Anand Shyamji stepped in and made sure that his body was returned back to India for the last rituals. Today, I am walking in his footsteps and implementing all the learnings with his blessing forever on me.
Later, I started painting traditional pictures. All painters have the same style; it’s just that all painters change their views. I also draw pictures of the same story other people draw, but my way of displaying the imagery is different. I love all my paintings. I cannot describe any painting as good or bad. The time to create a painting totally depends on that painting. But usually, it does take several days to complete with proper finishing touches.
Inspirations for Gond Art Paintings
Meg: What are some of the other inspirations for Gond paintings?
Vijay: There are many mythological stories in Gonds that are based on myths and legends. Based on these stories, Gonds are inspired to create their paintings. There are many such mythological stories which give us positive energy and teaches us the meaning of life.
Out of all the stories, there is a story of seven brothers and sisters which I like the most. This is an interesting story about love and sacrifice for our sisters. There is also a peacock and peahen’s story, which talks about our daily life right from the morning prayers to every action of our day's work. And last but not least, Mahua’s story, which tells a story of humankind.
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What is Gond Art?
Meg: Do the colors have any special meaning?
Vijay: In Gond paintings, colors play a very important role. The selection of colors is based on pictures and the story behind them. In the past, natural colors from nature itself were used. Flowers, leaves, tree roots, stones with different colors, soil, etc. were used to create colors. All these things were ground up and boiled until they were one fourth of the original quantity. In today's modern era, everything has changed and the trend of modern colors has increased.
Meg: The use of lines and patterns is a special feature of Gond painting. Can you explain why this is significant?
Vijay: In Gond paintings, lines, dashes, points, etc. have special importance. Through this medium, we can demonstrate the potential of our pictures more thoroughly. As the lines imply, the ridges of our fields, which are limited to every farmer, and on that limited land one must grow the crop for himself and for the entire family.
With this significance, we draw lines and incorporate all the colors so that our feelings can be seen clearly or look beautiful. All artists have their own specialties through a symbol that identifies them. My medium is dash / hyphen (-) which I consider as a grain of rice rather than a dash (-). I use it in my pictures as a medium of rice grains. By using this, it signifies that I spread rice in my farm, and this is the means of livelihood. So categorically, lines are our fields, and dash / hyphen is our rice.
Gond Community Unique and Special
Meg: Who are the Gond people?
Vijay: The history of Gond is very ancient. Initially, there were two parts of the Earth, Loretia and Gondwana Land. This is also proven historically and through scientific research. Over time, Earth was divided into many parts. Earlier, Gonds were spread across the country; however, with time many were converted to Hindus. You can still find the highest number of Gonds in Madhya Pradesh. We are also found in other states like Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orrisa, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The Gond community is distinct from other communities. Our customs, food, lifestyle, etc. are all different compared to others. We worship Nature. All our Gods and Goddesses are related to nature. Our Gods and Goddesses are all around us and start within our house. Starting from the choke, or fireplace stove within the house, doors, to the courtyard outside the house, to the street, the corner of the street, village side, fields, forests, etc. all consists of our Gods and Goddesses.
We also follow many rituals as per our customs right from the birth of a child to death. In our customs, there is no need for a Brahman / Pandit (Priest), barber or laundry man. There are no jobs for such people as Gond family members do these jobs themselves. All the work is done by our family relatives or our society. We always belonged to the forests; where would you get a barber or laundry man there? Hence, all such work was always done by our people only.
Stone Age Gond Art Involves Gods and Goddesses
Meg: When did the Gond style of art originate?
Vijay: Gond art is an exceptionally old art, even before the Stone Age. Over time, its form has changed. Gonds have unwavering trust in the Gods, Goddess and Ghosts; the Spirits. During the Stone Age, tribes lived in the caves and sought to ensure their safety by drawing portraits of Gods and Goddesses in those caves. Gonds used this as an example and placed pictures in their houses. Sharing pictures of Gond cave art still exists somewhere in Bhopal, India, known as Bheem Baithka.
We Gonds also show in our art the saga of our history. Gonds had 52 Kingdoms. There are stories of the regime of every King from each Kingdom. Their stories are incredibly immense. Their history remains quite old, and the most renowned story is of King Heera Khan.
They used to make tattoos on their bodies. It is believed that a man comes in this world empty handed and leaves empty handed. Hence, the tattoo was made on their body so at least the Gond art remains a part of them, even after death.
The Gonds believe that the places which follow cleanliness will never have scarcity of food grains and its grace will always remain on them. Hence Gonds always keep their houses clean and decorate it with their artworks.
Gond art depicts many things like our traditional customs, our festival ceremonies, livestock that live around us, trees, birds, animals, wild animals and many more. The tribal live in harmony with other people and in their pictures they describe their life expectancies, their day to day needs and wants, their hunt for food, etc. Gods and Goddesses are also a part of the paintings.
Taking Inspiration from Myths, Legends and Emotions
Meg: How is the art significant to the community?
Vijay: 'Painted Stories’ is what the tribal art form of the Pardhan Gond’s is popularly known as. Originally painted as symbols of good fortune on the walls of the Gond dwellings, this fabulous art-form has now found a unique contemporary expression in brilliant acrylic hues on paper and canvas. Gond paintings are a reflection of man’s close connection with his natural surroundings. However, while a majority of Gond paintings do take inspiration from nature, it isn’t the only source of inspiration.
Gond paintings can also take inspiration from myths and legends of India, or they may also showcase images from the daily lives of the tribe. It can also showcase abstract concepts like emotions, dreams and imagination. It is fascinating to see that every artist has a unique pattern of dots and dashes and has an explanation as to why they choose such a pattern. These intricate patterns include forms like ants, trident, peacock feather, rope, water ripples, tiger ripples and more.
Presently, around 20 artists stay at Bhopal for better market access and opportunities. Also in Patangarh, which is a village inhabited by the Gond community, there are around 20-25 practicing painters out of 400 families. The artists take pride in practicing the Gond art form. Today, acrylic colors are used instead of natural colors. Before, the artists painted in their mud-laid houses; but now in pucca housing this is slowly decreasing. Still, they paint their houses during festivals, rituals and ceremonies. Families get together during marriage and other ceremonies and paint in their houses.
Read More: Learn about the colors of India: hand dyed fabrics, textiles, empowerment and more.
Age Old Story Shares Gond Art Symbolisms
Meg: What is one of the Gond stories and can you share its symbolism?
Vijay: This is an old story of a peacock and a chicken. While the earth was being created, the God of nature assigned tasks to every living being.
Our God Badadev created the earth. He also created day and night. Days would start at dawn and the sun would rise every day in the morning. But since people would still be in a deep sleep at dawn, how will they know it's the start of the day? Therefore, there was a need for a messenger. There were doubts on who would be chosen for this task. God thought about this and assigned the task of waking everyone up in the morning to the peacock. It was the peacock’s responsibility to inform everyone when the sun was rising. The peacock accepted this task.
The peacock decided to stay up all night for this reason. But looking at the world sleeping made the peacock drowsy. It got worried that it wouldn’t be able to complete this important task. It decided to kill time until the sun came up and started dressing extravagantly to impress people when they wake up in the morning. The peacock was so involved in decorating itself that it lost track of the time.
It was almost dawn and the Sun wanted the peacock to inform everyone first. The sun exclaimed, “Oh God, how can I rise without the peacock’s morning scream?”
As a response to that the God asked the chicken to quietly check on the peacock. The chicken saw that the peacock was too busy decorating itself and reported this to God. It added that the peacock was so engrossed in dressing up that it did not realize that the chicken had come to check on it.
God realized that the peacock wouldn’t be able to make it on time. Hence God assigned the task to the chicken and covered its head with a comb, like sun rays. Since then, the chicken crows every morning and as a result of peacock dressing up, you will never see a more beautiful bird than the peacock.
Local Drink Mahua Illustrates Local Community's Wisdom
Meg: Is there another motif that reflects the local community’s wisdom?
Vijay: This painting depicts a funny story within the Gond community. It shows how our behavior changes by consuming each and every glass of the local drink, Mahua. Mahua liquor is made from dried mahua. First, dried mahua flowers are kept in a pot of mud filled with water for two to four days. Later, the yeast (sugar) is mixed in the mahua and we put it in a pot and boil it. When the mahua starts to boil and steam, the same steam evaporates and is collected in a vessel. This is how mahua liquor is made.
When a person has one peg of mahua liquor, he starts to talk very sweet like a parrot. He speaks to everyone in a civilized manner. He gives everyone equal respect. He addresses everyone as “my brother, my friends, mother, father, dear son, daughter” and speaks with great affection. It feels as if there is no other man as gentle as him.
But after having a second peg, he starts roaring like a lion. He claims to be stronger than the lion. His behavior has changed. He feels he is very strong, very rich and very honorable. Everyone else is ordinary and insignificant in front of him. He can do anything. No one can stop him nor can do anything to him. He can do whatever he wishes. He is uppermost and nothing is impossible for him.
After having a third peg, he becomes unusual. It becomes an overdose, and the person starts behaving like a pig. He loses all his earthly senses. He forgets everything, he forgets who he is, where he is, what he is doing, who he is talking to. He forgets how to talk to someone and what to say. He forgets what culture is. He talks in an uncivilized manner. Where you should sit, where you should sleep, where you should stay; is it in the house or in the street or in a dirty drain? He does not understand why his clothes are getting dirty in the mud, and he doesn't even notice if he urinates himself.
Asking Permission from Nature
Meg: I read that Gond paintings are a reflection of man’s close connection with his natural surroundings. Is this true?
Vijay: Gonds have immense unwavering faith in nature. Nature is the universe for the Gonds. Gonds receive everything from nature, so they respect it and consider it to be their shelter. They are nothing without nature. Money is offered to Mother Nature for using her soil in wedding ceremonies. Following a death, permission is taken from Mother Nature for the burning ceremony and then the rituals are undertaken.
Before taking anything from the nature, we believe that we need to ask its permission. Only when we have its permission, we proceed to take what we need from it. We worship all things nature has given to us like rivers, mountains, stones, trees, water, etc.
I personally believe that our elders mean everything to us, without them we are nothing. They are our protectors. We also consider fish to be extremely pure. Before we leave our houses for any important work, we consume fish as a part of our diet, which is considered as auspicious. We also feed on fish before starting a specific prayer. Fish are found in water and we believe that water is the purest existing element which is also used to clean any forms of filth.
Gond Spiritual Beliefs: Saja Tree, Sacrifices and Nava Khai
Meg: Can you explain a bit about Gond’s spiritual beliefs?
Vijay: In Gond culture, the most important God is Badadev, which is the first God. We believe that our God resides in the Saja tree. We worship our God under the same tree. The Saja tree is venerable to us. We worship our family deities and once in every 3-5 years, we make a sacrifice of a chicken, goat or a pig in order to please the Gods to keep our family, farm, animals, wealth, etc. safe and to prevent all kinds of losses.
The great God is usually worshipped for a bigger cause. Every time we harvest paddy (rice), we make “Khichdi” (a plain dish made from rice and Urad dal) and offer it to our family deities and Gods. We also offer Mahua wine (made from flowers of Mahua tree). This act of celebrating the new rice season is called Nava Khai.
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Marriage Traditions of the Gond People
Meg: What are the traditions surrounding marriage in this culture?
Vijay: Gonds are tribal people and usually get married within the tribal community. There are different Gods within the Gond society. Marriages can only happen if the families of bride and groom worship different Gods. We do not call any priests to conduct our weddings. All the rituals are conducted by our own Panda (priest) called a Gutanya. A Gutanya is a person who has complete knowledge of our Gods and Goddesses and is eligible to complete all the rituals.
Our society has a few knowledgeable people who act as priests. Hindus call priests for any rituals but in Gonds we call the Panda (Gautanya). Our rituals and prayers are also quite different from the Hindus. According to our history, priests came from Aryas (Hindus) whereas Gonds came much before Aryas. Hence right from early days we have different procedures of performing rituals compared to the Hindus. Our Gautanya makes holy sacrifices of hen, goats or pigs to please our Gods and also offers alcohol to the God which cannot be expected by a priest.
Similarly, as compared to the other Hindu customs, we do not take rounds around the fire (Agni) during our wedding ceremony. We go around a pavilion made of branches of various trees like bamboo, sycamore, mango, grass, mustard trees, etc. The bride and the groom are supposed to make 7 rounds around the fire. This act of going around is a vital part of the wedding rites.
Nephews Play Special Role in Gond Families
Meg: What makes the Gond people unique from other people?
Vijay: According to the Hindu rituals, wedding rounds are taken from left to the right, whilst the Gonds follow from right to the left. This also has relevance to nature. When a creeper grows around a tree, it grows from right to the left side of the tree. Similarly, all the planets revolve around the Sun from the right to the left. Such uniqueness separates us from all other religions.
In the Gond society, the nephew plays an imperative role in case of a death in the family. The nephew alone is allowed to complete all the rituals and death rites or else we believe that the soul of the dead does not attain peace. Unlike Hindu customs where the son does all the last rites of the deceased, in Gonds the nephew plays a major role. Gonds believe that only a nephew can help the deceased attain peace and a place in heaven. As a ritual, the family of the deceased gives a portion of their belongings and property to the nephew. If there is no immediate nephew of the deceased, the family looks for a distant relative.
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Get Yourself a Painting!
Meg: How and where do you sell your paintings? How could someone contact you to commission or buy a painting?
Vijay: We display our paintings and some people people do contact us to buy them. We do not have our own website. To buy our paintings, we can be contacted through Facebook , Instagram, LinkedIn or Whatsapp.
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This article posts a lot of information on Gond art and cultures. Thanks for sharing that ancient tribal art form that uses bright colors to bring myths, emotions, and community values alive.
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It is a form of painting from folk and tribal art that is practiced by one of the largest tribes in India – the Gond – who are predominantly
Dating back to more than 1400 years ago, the Gond tribe has painted and carved art on the walls of caves which all belong to the Mesolithic Period. The Gonds
Gond paintings are a form of painting from folk and tribal art that is practiced by one of the largest tribes in India with whom it shares
Gond painting is a famous folk art of the Gond tribal community of central India. It is done to preserve and communicate the culture of the
Gond art is a form of painting from folk and tribal art that is practiced by one of the largest tribes in India – the Gond – who are
Gond art is believed to be an offering in worship of nature, based on the Gond belief that a good image ushers in good luck and helps ward off
Pictorial art on walls and floors has been part of the domestic life of Gonds, specially among Pardhans since it is done with the construction and re-
Gond art is a famous art of the Gond tribal community of central India which not only include painting but also include folk dances, songs
Gond paintings form a mystic world that is created by dots and lines. They are a form of folk and tribal art that is practiced by one of the
Vijay: Gond art is an exceptionally old art, even before the Stone Age. Over time, its form has changed. Gonds have unwavering trust in the Gods, Goddess and