The Enchanting Art of our Tribes
![]() |
Bhil art by Bhuri Bai |
In a small house on the outskirts of Bhopal, two city
dwellers engaged in a conversation with a Bhil artist. For the uninitiated,
Bhils are an indigenous tribal community found in the western Deccan regions
and central India among other smaller clusters in the subcontinent. While the
simple old woman narrated the wonders she witnessed during her last visit to San
Jose, her audience couldn’t help but ask her, “What did you eat during all
those days?” A couple of bananas in the morning would prepare the old lady for
the day of presenting her artworks before the art crème of the city,
interacting with the audience and being celebrated for her exemplary creative
eye.
But Bhuri Bai, one of India’s first contemporary Bhil
artists, was unfazed by the international hullabaloo. She continues to be the
simple charmer creating those intricate artworks that are stark in form and
colours, yet successfully conveys the vibrancy of life forms. At least that’s
what Rasika Kajaria and Mandira Lamba discovered when they met the acclaimed old
artist in her home a few months back while scouring the country to dig out
names of tribal master artists whose works would be worth unravelling. “You
wouldn’t even reckon her as this phenomenal artist when you chat with her. But
when she starts painting you see her metamorphosing into this gigantic creative
powerhouse. These people continue to live their lives away from the glare,
sometimes even their ingenuity going unapprised. Tribal Art Forms is an
initiative to bring these
iconic talents into the spotlight,” says Rasika, at
Exhibit 320, where every art connoisseur must go and witness the beauties
created by master folk artists and their immediate apprentices. Interestingly,
‘Given Power’, that was inaugurated by Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Ayog, is a
showcase helmed by contemporary galleries Exhibit 320 and Mandira’s Blueprint12
(that she owns with her sister-in-law Ridhi Bhalla).
Bhuri Bai is just one of the artists whose brilliant works
have been put up. The two art connoisseurs have given a platform to iconic
works by the legendary tribal artists from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharastra
and Bengal. You will find works by Sita Devi, Jangar Singh Shyam, Ladoo Bai,
Soni Jogi, Japani Shyam, Nankusia Shyam, Narmada Prasad Tekam, Ram Singh
Urveti, Sadashiv Soma Mashe and Kalam Patua gracing
![]() |
Gond art by Jangarh Singh Shyam |
While the show is an effort to invite the reader to discover
other regions, styles and artists that epitomises the incomparable diversity of
the contemporary tribal and popular Indian art, I thought, while being blown
over by every frame that I witnessed, that these are artists about whom we need
to know more about. Because so far, despite the acclaims and the awards, they
have been absent from the regular art aficionado’s consciousness. These are
artists who have created these spectacular artworks, while living out the daily
drudgeries of life. They have lived with art, which is a natural instinct for
them. In many of the works, they have depicted their lives, their works,
environments and their feelings. Like in Balu Jivya Mashe’s Warli
![]() |
Warli art by Sadashiv Mashe |
While earlier these artists painted on walls of their homes
and used natural dyes, already the medium is changing. “The use of paints and
canvases mark a change in medium. It is only imperative that gradually these
artworks get merged into the mainstream. Like, these wooden sculptures can
double up as benches in anyones’s garden or lawns. The art by Kalam Patua, with
its highlights on how Bengal babus were influenced by the British rule, will
make for a quirky wall decor,” says Rasika.
What is heartening is that Rasika and Mandira are not doing
this as a one-off show to grab the connoisseur’s attention. They realise that a
consolidated effort is required to bolster the situation of these artists.
Hence, an online forum called Tribal Art Forms, has been launched to showcase
and deal in tribal art by these master artists and more. Tribal Art Forms will
be debuting at the upcoming India Art Fair, 2018 and in March the enterprising
women are taking the platform to Hongkong Art Centre.
![]() |
Art by Soni Jogi |
![]() |
By Kalam Patua |
While I can go on and on about ‘Given Power’ that struck me
with its beauty and brilliance (I spent more than an hour just staring at the
magnificent works), I suggest you go see the show (on till Dec 24th
at Exhibit 320) for yourself. It is bound to leave an indelible impression on
your mind…
Comments
Post a comment