Gond Art : A Folk Art Form with Beautiful Tribal Colours, Themes and Shapes
The Gond tribe originated in Madhya Pradesh, and their name comes from the word 'Kond,' which means "green mountain." While Gond art is mainly associated with Madhya Pradesh, it is also popular in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. The Government of India has taken steps to preserve the Gond art, aiming to support the artisans financially and inspire future generations. As a result, Gond art has gained popularity and is now showcased in international exhibitions, fetching high prices.
The Rich History of Gond Art
Gond people have been practicing painting and other art forms for more than 1400 years. They have a long tradition of making art on cave walls, dating back to the Mesolithic period. The Gonds believe that seeing beautiful images brings good luck, so they traditionally paint motifs, tattoos and images on the floors and walls of their homes. These images also serve to preserve and share historical knowledge and teachings.
Pradhan Gonds are known for their impressive skills in both art and music. In the 1980s, the director of the Bharat Bhavan Museum in Bhopal, J. Swaminathan, wanted to showcase urban and tribal art together. He sent his students to various villages in the Dindori district to find artists, and one of them was a notable painter named Jangarh Singh Shyam, who belonged to the dominant Gond community. Jangarh Singh Shyam 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 mountains, sky or trees, is the abode of a spirit. Hence recreating the forms of nature is done with reverence and worship of their sacred essence. These paintings serve as an example of the close connection of the Gond tribe with the spirit of nature. Gond paintings draw inspiration from the myths and legends of India. They also depict scenes from the contemporary life of the people. An elaborate narrative portrays abstract concepts involving feelings, dreams, and imaginative constructs. Since many Pradhan Gonds are accomplished musicians, their paintings often depict stories from their songs.
The most important subjects explored and depicted in Gond's paintings include birds, animals and mythological animals. Since the paintings also derive themes from the people's daily lives, the Mahua tree is an important subject. Considered the tree of life, the flowers, fruits, seeds and leaves of the Mahua tree serve many purposes for the tribe. Urban themes depict modern themes such as technology and automobiles. Folktales and local deities like Phulwari Devi, Jalharin Devi and Marahi Devi are culturally important.
The Exquisite Shapes of Gond Art
The style incorporated takes care that the lines, whether of the border or of the internal intricacies that form the subjects, immediately attract the viewer's attention. Dots and dashes accentuate the details with exquisite brilliance unique to Gond paintings. The inclusion of various geometric shapes and patterns, such as fish scales, water droplets and seed shapes, round out the expressive value of the art. A sense of motion is established through the curves and strokes of the lines, and so many critics have described it as an 'on line work.'
