What is Gond Art: History and Stories of Gond Paintings

India is a place of wonders, and the country has a beautiful collection of traditional Indian folk art and indigenous paintings that are celebrated worldwide. With its vibrant cultures, rich heritage and history, our nation is incredible, and Gond art is a marvel that deserves to be known for its distinctive beauty and cultural appeal.

People from everywhere are delighted to deep dive into the 1400 years old Gond art history and are equally eager to come across its cultural significance. This blog is like a tour that will walk you through the important details of Gond painting.

From understanding “what is Gond art”, key characteristics, famous painters, to how to create Gond art in 4 simple steps, you’ll have a comprehensive knowledge by the end of this blog.

What is Gond Art?

In the literal sense, the word Gond has its roots in the term “Kond,” meaning green mountain. Gond art is a beautiful form of painting of the indigenous Gond community (Pradhan Gond), in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

India has a rich tribal population, and this community is one of the largest tribes aiming to keep the drawing tradition alive in the modern world. Gond paintings unveil folk tales from the past and take inspiration from Indian mythology, ancient legends and nature itself.

The art dates back to medieval times, when artists in villages painted their walls and floors to beautify them. With time, painters replaced the wall with the canvas, and slowly, the tribal form made it to the global scene.

As the paintings go global, art lovers from countries like the United States, Europe, and Australia started acknowledging and appreciating their beauty, traditional origins and cultural significance. Interestingly, the indigenous paintings of Madhya Pradesh and Aboriginal art shared the same continental source, Gondwana, and their similarities, especially in the use of dots, only reinforce the fact.

Gond paintings are not just appealing to the eye, but also a medium of expression for the painters. Although you might mistake a Gond painting for the Madhubani art (from the Mithila tribe), both are distinct in style and belong to different communities. These paintings were also a part of TRIFED's Artisanal Treasures at the G20 Summit in 2023.

Historical Importance of Gond Art

Wondering how the walls made way for the canvas in Gond art? Diving deep into the Gond art history will take you to the villages of Madhya Pradesh, where a Gond painter and a farmer, Jangarh Singh Shyam, was living with his family. J. Swaminathan, director of the Bharat Bhavan Museum, who was mesmerized by the beauty of Jangarh’s paintings, invited him to Bhopal to try out his creativity on canvas and with acrylics.

His decision to paint on canvas became a turning point for Gond art and its painters, as people from everywhere became equally captivated by its technique, history and culture.

Jangarh Singh Shyam became the first tribal artist to paint traditionally using canvas. The first woman to try Gond painting on canvas was Durga Bai Vyam. While the paintings on walls and floors were temporary displays, the ones on canvas were more long-lasting.

Now these tribal compositions can go up to twenty years without damage, as modern creators often claim. Other than Bhopal, Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha have also embraced this centuries-old art form.

Gond art history may date back centuries, but it's only in the last 40 years that these compositions have become a part of the lives of artwork lovers, both nationally and globally.

Key Characteristics of Gond Art

1.     Themes:

• Mythology (Hindu Gods and Goddesses, especially Lord Ganesha)

•  Legends

• Folklore

• Nature

• Human and nature interactions

• Flora and Fauna

2.    Drawing Technique

• Detailed and intricate patterns

• Dots (upward, downwards and sideways)

• Bold lines

• Geometric shapes

What are the Materials required for Gond art?

Gond paintings are a tradition and culture passed down from the tribesmen, and they are highly eco-friendly. Artists do not simply create paints from nature, but also use recycled or repurposed canvas to protect and preserve the environment. Growing up in the villages of Madhya Pradesh, they were close to flora and fauna, and their paintings are replete with natural motifs. The Pradhan folk painting style is very colorful, vibrant, and the pigments are made from:

• Colored soil

• Plant sap

• Flowers

• Mud

• Rocks

•  Soot/ Charcoal

• Turmeric

Famous Artists of Gond Paintings

Who Started Gond art?

Jangarh Singh Shyam

-        First artist to use acrylic on canvas and paper for his tribal creatives

-        Founder of Jangarh Kalam (School of Art)

-        Death: 2001 (39 years old)

Other Famous Artists of Gond Paintings

Nankusia Bai

• Jangarh’s wife

-        Portrays nature in her hand-painted visuals

Japani Shyam

-        Jangarh’s First Born Daughter

-        Born during Jangarh’s first trip to Japan, hence the moniker

-        Awarded the prestigious Kamala Devi Award at age 11

-        Follows a distinct style

-        Participated in the International Exhibitions

Mayank Shyam

-        Jangarh’s Son

-        Youngest member of the Jangarh School

-        Indigenous paintings by him were displayed in Sotheby’s, New York (top auction house)

-        State award by Hasta Shilpa Evam Hathkargha Vikas Nigam, Bhopal.

-        Portrays birds

-        Prefers black and white compositions

Subhash Vyam

-        Jangarh’s brother-in-law

-        Depicts aquatic life through his artworks

-        Portrays characters from folktales narrated by his wife Durgabai

-        Awarded the Rajya Hastha Shilpa Puraskar by the Government of Madhya Pradesh (2002)

Durgabai Vyam

• Jangarh Singh Shyam’s sister-in-law

• Started painting at age 6

•  Apprenticed under Jangarh

• Uses motif of a paddy seed in her creations

•  Her style is distinct and is a provocative shift in the realm of the traditional art

•  Co-author of ‘The Night Life of Trees’ that won Italian Bologna Ragazzi (2008)

Dhavat Singh Uikey

-        Jangarh Singh’s Son-in-law

-        M. Tech student inspired by creativity in the Jangarh household

-        Explores and experiments with the ancestral painting technique

-        Depicts folktales via vibrant artworks

How to make Gond art at home?

Art supplies:

-        Acrylic/ Poster colors

-        Canvas

-        Fine-tipped brushes

-        Black outlining pen

If you prefer to go green, create your own pigments by crushing leaves, flowers or using turmeric. Nowadays, contemporary artists are using natural pigments to create paintings, to help people realize that this beautiful and expressive medium can be made with no cost or low-cost alternatives. Green artists everywhere are already making a switch from toxic paints to natural ones and recycled canvases for sustainability.

A Quick Guide to Creating Gond Paintings in 4 Simple Steps

1.     Create a basic outline of the painting you are about to draw.

2.     Use a fine-tipped black pen for retracing the outline.

3.   Use colors (preferably red, green, yellow and blue) and contrast them for added vibrancy.

4.     Add intricate patterns, lines and dots to complete the final look.

Important Tip: Make your artwork traditional, and you may choose to explore or experiment to make it unique. As a beginner, you may start practicing with a small canvas or plan to hand-paint your bookmark in the traditional style.

Indigenous Painting in a Contemporary World

In today’s times, creators use acrylic, poster and oil colors to make indigenous drawings and the artworks are done on canvas. A majority of contemporary artists are no longer using natural pigments as they are not feasible or convenient. However, there are still some creators who prefer using colors from the natural world. As Gond paintings are very vibrant and intricate, they have seeped as designs into everyday items of use like coasters, jewelry, bags, home décor and everything in between.

The purpose of continuing this age-old tradition is to show the world the exquisiteness of the paintings, and also to keep alive the rich tribal traditions of India. Not only in India, but also abroad, people everywhere are celebrating the indigenous art style. Many countries, like Japan, have organized exhibitions so that art enthusiasts can come across these beautiful paintings and appreciate their beauty.

Bottomline

Gond art is not only traditional but also relevant in a world that aims for a green planet and a green future. The artists of this tribe dream of a future where this cultural expression continues to survive and is not lost in the sea of modern paintings and innovation.

The beautiful artworks are not simply aesthetically pleasing but also represent India as a land of rich heritage, culture, and folklore in the global art scene. The indigenous community is closely tied to nature, and the themes exemplify this fact.

As a modern painter, to create your artworks in the style, you need to follow the traditional essence and also embrace new ideas without compromising on the ingenuity. It's time to try out this old Indian indigenous art by coloring your spirits in the vibrant Indian hues of Gond paintings.

Do you think we should support local artists by purchasing Gond paintings from them? What is your favorite Indian traditional art form that you enjoy exploring? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section.