Treewhispers

Indigenous Arts of India

The theme woven through this painting is the interplay between trees and fish, depicted in indigenous traditions of Indian art. In many ancient cultures, trees are acclaimed and adored, but in India, the tree is considered as Purusha and earth as Prakriti. The cosmic entity, Purusha, exists beyond the realms of time and space and combines with Prakriti to form this world of creation. Fish are a symbol of fertility and prosperity, symbolizing wealth and abundance. The presence of fish indicates that all the elements of nature are in harmony.

Madhubani or Mithila 

Madhubani or Mithila painting was traditionally created by the women of various communities in the Mithila region of India in the eastern Indian State of Bihar. Traditionally done on freshly plastered mud walls and floors of huts,  Madhubani paintings are made from the paste of powdered rice, colors extracted from flowers and other natural ingredients. Madhubani paintings use two-dimensional imagery with central themes that are based around nature and Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

Trees depict the various elements of life in complete harmony. Trees, birds, animals are all support systems for each other. A melodious harmony of well formed shapes, bright colored fills and intricate patterns are depicted in Madhubani art.

With changing trends and requirements, these indigenous and tribal art forms are now also done on handmade paper, silk saris, dresses, shawls & pots with acrylic colors and other current day art materials. These arts, though developed in the rural areas centuries ago have experienced a resurgence and are cherished even by the urban elite. Social scenarios are depicted these days using this art style, making it very contemporary. These paintings are very much in demand and the revival of these art forms has helped the artists and their creativity flourish. 

Artwork and story by Nita Padamsee

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 Indigenous Arts of India

The theme woven through this painting is the interplay between trees and fish, depicted in indigenous traditions of Indian art. In many ancient cultures, trees are acclaimed and adored, but in India, the tree is considered as Purusha and earth as Prakriti. The cosmic entity, Purusha, exists beyond the realms of time and space and combines with Prakriti to form this world of creation. Fish are a symbol of fertility and prosperity, symbolizing wealth and abundance. The presence of fish indicates that all the elements of nature are in harmony.

Warli

The Warli tribe is one of the largest in India, located outside the bustling metropolis of Mumbai, in the western Indian State of Maharashtra. Warli art is very near and dear to me since I grew up in Bombay, (which is now called Mumbai) and saw it very often drawn on walls, tree trunks and on cloth. This tribal style of art is thought to date back as early as 10th century A.D. The Warli culture is centered on the concept of Mother Nature and elements of nature are often focal points. Farming is their main way of life and a large source of food for the tribe. They greatly respect nature and wildlife for the resources that they provide. Warli artists use their clay huts as the backdrop for their paintings.

Warli painting is a simple, ancient and an eloquent way to express one’s thoughts and emotions. Only with some simple drawings and the use of two contrasting colors, a lot can be expressed. The Warli only paint with a white pigment made from a mixture of rice flour and water, with gum as a binder. A bamboo stick is chewed at the end to give it the texture of a paintbrush.

With changing trends and requirements, these indigenous and tribal art forms are now also done on handmade paper, silk saris, dresses, shawls & pots with acrylic colors and other current day art materials. These arts, though developed in the rural areas centuries ago have experienced a resurgence and are cherished even by the urban elite. Social scenarios are depicted these days using this art style, making it very contemporary. These paintings are very much in demand and the revival of these art forms has helped the artists and their creativity flourish. 

Artwork and story by Nita Padamsee

Read Full Post »

Please note the corrected image.

Treewhispers

 

Indigenous Arts of India

The theme woven through this painting is the interplay between trees and fish, depicted in indigenous traditions of Indian art. In many ancient cultures, trees are acclaimed and adored, but in India, the tree is considered as Purusha and earth as Prakriti. The cosmic entity, Purusha, exists beyond the realms of time and space and combines with Prakriti to form this world of creation. Fish are a symbol offertility and prosperity, symbolizing wealth and abundance. The presence of fish indicates that all the elements of nature are in harmony.

Gond

The Gond tribes primarily live in the central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. 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 Gond believe that viewing good images brought in good luck. Their paintings…

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Indigenous Arts of India

The theme woven through this painting is the interplay between trees and fish, depicted in indigenous traditions of Indian art. In many ancient cultures, trees are acclaimed and adored, but in India, the tree is considered as Purusha and earth as Prakriti. The cosmic entity, Purusha, exists beyond the realms of time and space and combines with Prakriti to form this world of creation. Fish are a symbol of fertility and prosperity, symbolizing wealth and abundance. The presence of fish indicates that all the elements of nature are in harmony.

Gond 

The Gond tribes primarily live in the central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. 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 Gond believe that viewing good images brought in good luck. Their paintings are also a means to record and pass on historical knowledge and teachings.

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. Gond paintings take inspiration from the myths and legends of India. A detailed narrative portrays abstract concepts encompassing emotions, dreams, and imaginative constructs. 

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.

With changing trends and requirements, these indigenous and tribal art forms are now also done on handmade paper, silk saris, dresses, shawls & pots with acrylic colors and other current day art materials. These arts, though developed in the rural areas centuries ago have experienced a resurgence and are cherished even by the urban elite. Social scenarios are depicted these days using this art style, making it very contemporary. These paintings are very much in demand and the revival of these art forms has helped the artists and their creativity flourish. 

Artwork and story by Nita Padamsee

Read Full Post »