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Artists bring Nature on Canvas

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02 Mar, 21 11:05
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Vilas Janve & Dr Shalini S. Nathaniel

Artists bring Nature on Canvas
  1. Recently we witnessed “ Kala Parv” an Art Camp held from 5th to 10th February, 2021. It was organized by West Zone Cultural Centre at Shilpgram, Udaipur. It was an enormous experience to see 38 artists from Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat creating colourful master pieces in the sparkling atmosphere of Shilpgram.

    Along with the Art camp, three days workshop was also organized for the localities art lovers. This workshop was facilitated by the renowned Gond Artist Shri Venkat Raman Singh Shyam who demonstrated the basics of Gond Painting. He hails from Pradahan community of Dindori, Madhya Pradesh and lives in Bhopal these days. He established himself as reputed World class Gond Artist. Venkat Singh Shyam shared the five essential elements of Gond painting namely Concept, Drawing, Painting, Pattern and Dots.

    Traditionally Gond Art is rooted in folk tales, culture and thus story telling is a strong element of every painting. The belief that viewing a good image begets good luck so decorating walls and the floor of houses with traditional tattoos and motifs was practiced by households. Secondly painting is also the medium of recording the history. Generally the belief system of tribal communities is all things are inhabited by a spirit and consequently, are sacred. While Nature is the source of inspiration

    Such as Dighna and Chokas, the auspicious geometrical patterns are an integral parts of Gond paintings. Irrespective of gender both men and women have a freedom to create paintings with their source of imagination and showcase images from the daily lives and dreams in their artwork. Smt. Saroj Venkat Shyam, wife of Shri Venkat Singh Shyam, creates fantasy and vibrant colours on canvas. She says that her husband Venkat ji motivated her to paint and become her Art Teacher.

    Director of WZCC, Udaipur, Smt. Kiran Soni Gupta who conceptualized this Camp says “ Art of India portrays cultural diversity of the country which was truly depicted in this camp as there was a refined blend of different Tribal culture like Rajsthani Bhil , Madya Predesh Bhil, Warli from Maharashtra and so on.”

    Bharti Prajapati, Textile Designer from NID, Ahmadabad and Trupti Joshi from Vadodara painted tribal forms in contemporary context. Though both of these female Artists paints of gender specific subjects were inspired by the pure tribal artists groups and paint the tribal motifs on their canvases.

    On the other hand Pareshbhai Rathwa from Chota Udaipur says painting for them is a ritual. Rathwas are invited to paint on the walls and provided milk and curd for bathing before starting painting the walls. Painting has to be completed on specific time and number of horses has a meaning. Agnesh Kerketta was specialized in Uraon Rajawar of Chattisgarh. Agnesh says lines convey a sense of movement to still images. Gariba Singh Tekam says one of the distinctive elements is the use of signature patterns that are used to infill the larger forms on the canvas.


    However, Vijay Shyam, Ramesh , Sukhiram Marani and his wife Manti from Bhopal, Ganesh Wangad (Warli) from Palghar, Maharashtra, and Mangi Lal Gameti, young Bhil artist from Udaipur and others created miracles on canvas. Each canvas has some indigenous story or the folklore. It was very interesting to spend a day with these Artists and listening about their Art elements. .A certain sense of balance and symmetry was observed on each canvas along with trees, leaves, animals and human figures. Bright colors and the placement of motifs showcasing village life and the blending of human figures with rituals and nature depict the inherent skills and creativity of these indigenous artists.

    Asking about the origin of Gond Painting, Venkat Shyam said, in 1981 his uncle late Jangarh Singh Shyam (Wall Painter) was introduced to renowned artist, poet, journalist and Founder Director, Rupankar, Museum, Bharat Bhavan Bhopal Shri Jagdish Swaminathan who initiated new era of Gond Paintings asked Venkat ji’s uncle late Jangarh Singh Shyam to paint on Canvas with Brush resultant his paintings were appreciated in Art World not only in India but overseas also. He became famous for the most vibrant and colourful paintings. The Gond paintings started finding places in reputed Art Galleries, Museums and exhibitions.


    Knowing enormous credentials of Venkat Raman Singh Shyam, an interesting interaction was planned. Glimpses of this interaction are mentioned below:-


    Question-Venkat ji, what were the traditional colours found in your villages?
    Venkat- Traditionally we used earthen colors like red, white, black and yellow while green colour is extracted from fresh cow dung or green leaves. Due to scarcity of natural colours presently artists have begun using poster colours , acrylic and fabric colours

    Question- How do you paint?
    Venkat- Initially we used bamboo sticks for painting but gradually shifted to brush and even used ink pens for making patterns. Earlier our paintings were done on the Mud walls.
    Question- Who inspired you in Gond Paintings?
    Venkat- My uncle and Shri J. Swaminathan.

    Question-So got Gurus ? How did you find the new sphere?
    Venkat- Earlier I had painted signboard, posters, walls and hoardings. I gained tremendous control on using brushes, colours and mediums besides having deep study of size and shapes. My old experience helped me a lot. After death of my Uncle Jangarh Singh Shyam in Japan, I decided to focus only on paintings. Swaminathan Sir guided me in many aspects and encouraged my natural instinct and finally made me contemporary painter. Being a poet, I put all my innovative thoughts in my paintings. Every painting has a story. With hard work and timely encouragement my creations started finding places in galleries, big hotels, emporiums, museums and business houses. I attended workshops, camps and symposiums in India and abroad. I painted huge size (8 ft x48 ft) paintings and murals besides paintings of all sizes for Art Centres, Cultural Organizations, Central and State Lalit Kala Academies, Universities and other Institutions.

    I was awarded the Rajya Hasta Shilpa Puraskar by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 2002. I was also the coordinator for an animated film on a Gond folktale made by Tara Douglas which won the Tallest Story Competition Trophy at the Inverness Film Festival, Scotland, in 2007.I came across many senior and renowned artists and had an opportunity to work with them for many projects. My details can be found on my Website.

    Question-What was response of your book?
    Venkat- My autobiography titled “Finding My Way” was published in 2016 in collaboration with S. Anand, publisher of Navayana. The second version is available as “ Ganjha Mahua Chronicle”.


    Question-How do you decide your themes and subject of Paintings?
    Venkat- Either I decide the subject or my client gives me new subject to work on. In that case my imagination is given full regard by my client.

    Question-Tell us about the paintings close to your heart?
    Venkat- I love nature and all my subjects are connected with nature. My painting “Mother Earth” has emerged in many ways. One favourite version, Mother Earths has three hands, two hands are on trees and creatures and one on man in her lap. The third hand is on her own head which explains that she needs to look after herself too. My other loved subjects are “Creation of the World”, “Ardh Narishwar”, “Nandi” and “Knowledge Tree”. I advocate on the conservation of trees as they give us shelter, food, wood, and healthy air.


    Question- We heard that you also painted a series on Mumbai attack of in 2008?
    Venkat- I was in Mumbai on 26-11-2008 when this Incident took place. I was shocked. This incident had indelible impact on me. It compelled me to create a series of 18 paintings on this issue. This was exhibited in Bhopal, Delhi, Bangalore and Mysore. On demand I painted two more versions of the same series.

    Question-What did you paint in Covid-19 period?
    Venkat- Covid 19 created deep problems for me and many of the painters. Few of my Exhibitions and visits were postponed. I also had health issue. I created painting on this Pandemic which has been exhibited in Australia and New-Zealand.


    Question-Any of scholars are perusing their research work on Gond Paintings?
    Venkat-Yes, Monica Gidolin from Italy and Cecile from France completed their Post Doctoral work. Scholars from India are also perusing their work. I am helping them and also asking them to stay with community to have deeper knowledge of subject. One Scholar Frank Jean is also working on a book on Gond Art.


    Question-How can this art be introduced to School Children as we find the illustrations have great impact on our mind ?
    Venkat- We are already working on such issues and hope we shall get support of Education Departments. Our art is very close to Nature and for our survival we have to protect natural resources at any cost. Our paintings on various environmental issues can educate children and masses more effectively than the huge text contained in books.

    Question-What is the future of this art?
    Venkat-Very bright!
    Recently Bhuri bai, senior Gond painter was conferred award of Padmashri. Those who work sincerely and with innovation would certainly achieve new heights.


    Question-Was it your first visit to Udaipur?
    Venkat- Yes, I am very happy to work here. I look forward to conduct more Workshops with help of WZCC who has a very creative and enthusiastic Director like Madam Kiran Soni Gupta. I think the works created during this workshop of 38 painters will be exhibited soon so that many art lovers can see and admire works of artistes.


    Undoubted “ Kala Parv” is an ultimate camp that was organized by WZCC in Udaipur. It created the lasting charisma by the outstanding brilliance and talents of the 38 Master Artists came from different states of India. In fact, from the perspective of aesthetics, Tribal Kala Parv has reinforced communal harmony, intensified the cultural values and promoted the sensitivity towards Mother Nature and Environment.

    Our Best wishes for all the participants and big thank to Smt.Kiran Soni Gupta and her Team of WZCC.

--Vilas Janve & Dr Shalini S. Nathaniel--

 

 


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यह खबर निम्न श्रेणियों पर भी है: Vilas Janve
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