What are the origins of Ancient Indian Art: Gond Art?
The Gonds: A Brief Overview of the Tribe
The Gond tribe, regarded as one of the oldest and largest tribal groups in India, live in the regions of Central India spanning the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Andra Pradesh. The roots of this tribe go back to the ancient times while their traditions are embedded richly into the modern society of India.
The Gond tribe is renowned for various reasons including rich culture, art forms like dance and music, however, they are predominantly known for their paintings. They have a rich history in contributing towards the ancient Indian art and they are still inspiring modern Indian art. Gond Paintings are one of the most famous forms of traditional Indian art, majority of the people know more or less about this art form.
These paintings tell the stories of their heritage portraying nature & gods. They tend to use vibrant hues in a simple manner, however, they deliver meaningful and powerful designs. This traditional Indian art has gained global attention and is a key part in portraying the central India.
What are the Historical and Cultural Significance of Gond Art?
The Dravidian word “Kond,” meaning “green mountains,” is where the tribal name “Gond” arrived from. The Gond tribe originates in Madhya Pradesh, the “Heart of Incredible India,” and can also be found in some areas of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. The Gond art lineage dates back about 1400 years. Locating its origins in the Mesolithic Period, Gond art is one of the countless legacies of our country. The term “Gond,” “Pardhan Art,” or “Jangarh Kalam” refers to a combination of patterns, textures, and vibrant colors that go well with an element of satire and an appreciation of the natural world.
The Bhimbetka caves have the earliest wall paintings in India, dating between 20,000 and 5,000 years old. The paintings use natural pigments of white, red, and black to portray animals, symbols, and scenes from everyday life. The ideas are remarkably similar to those seen in Gond Tribal paintings.
Since ancient times, the Gond tribes have crafted their profound connection to our beloved nature and spirituality. They communicate with them in the form of art. This art is executed by paintings on the walls and floors of their homes using natural colors. The paintings depict the legacy of nature, animals and gods, also they include a touch of their daily life into it. Each painting has a sense of symbolic representation of trees referring to life; animals referring to strength and freedom.
Modern Indian art of Gond, involves usage of modern materials like canvas and colors. This art has transitioned from the famous ancient Indian art from Gond tribe, into a distinguished fine arts form. This is preserving the heritage and hence culturally significant for the society. Gond art does the job of representing beautiful paintings, however, they are more than just mere paintings; it upholds beautiful delivery of the traditions followed by the tribe, their daily lifestyle and beliefs.
A modern society is nothing if moral values are not grown into it’s people. These art work deliver the values of the traditions our ancient people followed, thus allowing us to know how far we have come. Today, Gond art work has a significant importance in Indian society because we celebrate every cultural heritage.
What are the Mythology and Symbolism in Gond Art?
Do you wonder why themes associated with nature tend to dominate most Gond Art? The reason for this is that the Gonds consider all elements of nature to be home to spirits.
Each and every painting has a captivating bright story behind it. This ancient Indian art delivers the tribe’s rich culture. The art work is rich in delivering deep meanings rooted deep inside nature and mythology. Elephants refers strength and valor, peacocks refers to beauty; they communicate in the language in their own form.
Paintings depict stories of gods, goddesses and many other mystical creatures. Craftsmen do a perfect job in illustrating the legends from Indian epics, Ramayana, Mahabharata with intricate details. A common theme is the depiction of Lord Krishna, in the paintings, he is often surrounded by nature, portraying the connection between god and it’s nature.
What are the tools involved in Gond art?
- Canvas: Handmade canvas or paper that are readily available in the market are used to make Gond paintings.
- Colors: Bright color shades like red, yellow, blue, green, etc., are widely used. Natural colors are obtained from natural resources like charcoal, colored soils, plants, leaves, cow dung, etc.
- Below is a list of some colors along with their natural sources.
- Black: Charcoal is the color that makes black.
- Yellow: Ramraj soil is the source of the color yellow.
- White: Chui dirt is the source of the color white.
- Red: Geru dirt is the source of this color.
- Green: Bean leaves are used to make dark green, while cow dung is used to make light green.
Gond paintings, which can persevere up to 20 years, are created on the mud walls of villages using colors made from charcoal, colored soil, plant sap, leaves, and cow dung.
What are the steps of creating a Gond Painting?
First we need to get through the themes involved in Gond paintings.
- Nature: Gond art draws heavily from nature. With considerable regard and attention to detail, artists portray woods, trees, animals, birds, and other natural phenomena. The artworks highlight the tribe’s close ties to the environment by symbolizing the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature.
- Mythology and Culture: The rich legends and folktales of the Gond people serve as an inspiration for artists. They tell stories of creation, brave acts, and heavenly beings while portraying gods, goddesses, and legendary animals from their oral traditions. Their cultural legacy is preserved and transmitted through these artworks.
- The practices and Celebrations: The tribe’s customs, festivals, and ceremonies are frequently shown in gond paintings. They portray the lively social fabric and happy moments inside the Gond community by capturing the essence of community events, dances, music, and other traditional customs.
- Everyday Life: Gond painters often portray scenes from their daily existence, including village life, farming, hunting, and gathering. These paintings celebrate the beauty and importance of commonplace occurrences by providing a glimpse into the profoundly basic yet meaningful aspects of their lives.
- Visions: Dreamlike and imaginative qualities are characteristic of gond art. Artists frequently use fantastical and surreal elements to create dreamlike scenes, mythological creatures, and abstract patterns. The artist’s inner world and capacity to transcend reality are reflected in these works of art.
Now comes the steps involved while producing the art,
- Preparation: The artist starts by choosing a canvas, which is typically a handcrafted piece of cloth or paper. Next, a binder and smooth base for painting is applied to the surface using a mixture of tamarind seed paste and water.
- Outlining: Using a fine-tipped brush or pen, outline the main pattern in the following step. The forms and shapes of the elements in the artwork are defined by the bold and detailed outlines. For this, artists employ dark-colored or black ink.
- Filling: After the outlines are finished, the artist works on adding the fine details and patterns to the design. Vibrant colors are a defining feature of gond art, and painters use natural pigments made from plants, minerals, and charcoal. To get the right consistency for painting, they combine the pigments with gum or water.
- Marking and Lighting: The unique dotting technique of Gond art is well-known. Artists construct complex dot patterns within the design using a thin metal stick or a small brush. This method gives the painting more depth, texture, and visual appeal. Additionally, shading is used to emphasize particular elements and give the image depth.
- Symbolic Themes: Gond artists use spiritual and culturally significant symbolic motifs. These themes frequently depict aspects of daily life, tribal mythology, or the natural world. Through the thoughtful placement of these symbols, the artist creates a narrative with the composition.
- Final Touches: The artist enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the painting by adding finishing touches after it is finished. This may involve highlighting some sections with metallic hues, adding intricate border designs, or combining additional features to create a coherent and visually attractive artwork.
Jangarh Singh Shyam: The Pioneer of Contemporary Gond Art
In the Madhya Pradesh village of Patangarh, in the Mandla district, Jangarh Singh Shyam was born in 1962 into a Pardhan Gond family. He was compelled to drop out of school at an early age to try his hand at farming due to his extreme poverty as a child. At the age of 16, he got married to Nankusia Bai from Sonpur village, who would later become his companion artist. A few years later, while still a teenager, Jangarh was “discovered” by renowned contemporary artist and future mentor Jagdish Swaminathan as he was painting traditional Gond designs on the walls of huts in Patangarh.
Following artist J. Swaminathan’s direction, Jangarh developed and matured as an artist, exploring and extending the boundaries of what defined Gond art till then. Jangarh was a member of the Pardhan Gond clan, which is the Gond community’s minstrels. Similar to the majority of Adivasi music, Pardhan music is characterized by rhythmic vibrations. Jangarh’s brilliant artworks, which are composed of many minute and brilliant dots, dashes, squiggles, and waves, reflect this. Bright and unusual colors and textures were hallmarks of Jangarh’s style, which became known as the “Jangarh Kalam,” in his artwork. He painted gods and goddesses, birds, animals, and trees in vibrantly textured, dynamic works that combined elements of tribal and modern art.
Influence of Global Recognition on Gond Art
Gond Painting is becoming more and more well-known worldwide. This ancient Indian art is commended for its vivid beauty and unique storyline. Gond art is well-known around the world for its exquisite patterns and cultural significance. Gond’s paintings are well-known in galleries and shows worldwide.
International artists and groups work with and partner with Gond artists. Collaborative projects and workshops foster creativity and cross-cultural exchange. Global platforms offer awareness and opportunities for Gond artists to showcase their creations.
Modern art practices have been influenced specially Gond Painting. This effect is brought about by its vivid colors and narrative style. Gond art is an inspiration to painters worldwide. In their art, they employ comparable themes and techniques. This intellectual interaction fosters invention and enhances the creative atmosphere.
Exhibitions of Ancient Indian art, Gond art in France have been held at the Musée du Quai Branly and other cultural institutions that promote traditional artistic forms. The rich history and distinctive craftsmanship of the Gond tribe is demonstrated through the art on display at the British Museum. Gond paintings often go featured in institutions that specialize in tribal or folk art, and they have been a part of shows in New York, Chicago, and other large cities.
What are the challenges in Preserving Gond Art?
One of the issue in preserving Gond Painting is the increasing commercialization which actually puts a question to it’s originality. As demand for ancient Indian art increases, artists are often left wanting to adapt modern tastes, resulting in a loss of traditional techniques.
Many Gond artists struggle to gain recognition and financial support. Even though the rising global appeal of ancient Indian art, a good proportion of Gond artists are only confined to rural areas with limited access to the digital world that could showcase their great illustrations. This lack of exposure hinders their ability to earn a sustainable income, pushing younger generations to pursue other occupations, which in turn threatens the continuity of this ancient Indian art form.
The knowledge of Gond paintings using natural colors and tools is slowly heading towards a decline. The usage of organic materials such as leaves, stones, to create colors is not as practices today largely due to the availability of synthetic paints. Hence, the painting process is changing, and because of that the centuries-old traditions that make Gond valuable.
Even though, the demand is increasing in international market for Gond paintings, many artists struggle to access global markets due to geographical, economic, and technological uncertainties. Lack of infrastructure, inadequate digital skills, and poor networks prevent Gond artists from promoting their work. This lessens their ability to support themselves financially and lessens the motivation for upcoming generations to carry on the art form.
Gond art is more than just a means of expression; it tells a vivid story about spirituality, tribal culture, and a close relationship with the natural world. The determination of Gond artist keeps this ancient Indian art alive and captivates audiences all over the world, in spite of the difficulties in its maintenance.
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