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The Shelter of Nature

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Details

Artform

Traditional Gond Art, Madhya Pradesh

Dimensions

22 x 30 In.

Medium

Natural Colors on Acid-Free Paper

Framing

Unframed

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The Painting

This artwork hand-painted by Venkat Shyam is made in the tradition of Gond art. Trees have been an important motif in the Gond belief system. It is said that each tree is inhibited by a spirit and therefore sacred to humans and animals. The subject matter extends to other animals and birds, one of the animals which are prominently portrayed in Gond art is cows. The artist has painted a tree in the center which houses various small birds and squirrels. In the foreground, he has depicted a cattle taking shelter under the tree’s shade. This tradition of painting trees, animals, and birds is part of the artistic expression of Gond culture where it expands on the everyday ecology. Venkat Shyam uses the traditional motifs of Gond painting and has introduced contemporary elements to it. Whereas the figures are drawn and painted using dots and dashes, the background is painted in an opaque vibrant blue which lends a flatness to the painting and provides a collagen appearance to the complete image. The palette comprises earthy natural pigments drawn on acid-free paper which is a 20th-century phenomenon as the Gond paintings were produced on mud walls.

The Artform

The Gond art originating in Madhya Pradesh derives its name from the Dravidian word kond which means ‘green mountain’. Over the years the Gond artists have developed a bold visual vocabulary that uses naturally occurring pigment colors such as black, deep red, white, and ochre. The geometric patterns involving dots are used to create an intricate image of animals and the natural environment with an infusion of a distinct style of each practicing Gond artist. The history of the Gond tribe goes back 1400 years ago, with it comes a heritage of Gond Pradhans, who were musicians and storytellers within the tribe, and the primarily practiced Gond art which has transcended from being painted on mud walls to canvas and papers. It is also popular in regions like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.

The Artist

Born in 1970, Venkat Shyam is a renowned name in the Indian Tribal art space. He apprenticed under his uncle Jangarh Singh Shyam, a renowned Gond artist for several years. He specializes in contemporary Pradhan Gond art, along with murals, etchings, mixed media, and animation. He is a recipient of the ‘Rajya Hasta Shilpa Puraskar’ and has exhibited in India as well as abroad such as in the exhibition Sakahàn: International Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Canada, in Ottawa (2013), Painted Songs & Stories, curated by John H. Bowles in the U.S.A (2010), Anadi organized by National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai (2004), and at the American embassy. He has published several books with his long-time collaborator S. Anand such as Finding My Way (2016) and Ganja Mahua Chronicles (2016).

Provenance

The painting has been created by Bridge Bharat’s master artist partners.

Customizations

"Want a unique artwork for that wall at home- one that resonates entirely with you? Please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at aakanksha@bridgebharat.com to discuss your requirements with our team. "

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Other details

"The price you see is for an unframed painting. If you want us to custom frame the artwork, please drop us a message. We highly encourage this, framing is an art by itself :) The artwork you will receive is as close to the original artwork as possible but as with all things handmade, there may be minute differences in color and motifs, truly rendering each artwork one of a kind. Trust the process! "

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