The Gond paintings are in news as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Gond painting to Brazilian president Luiz InacioLula da Silva at recently concluded 15th BRICS summit convention.
The Gond painting will now decorate the official residence of the president. The Gond paintings of Madhya Pradesh have got Geographical Indication Tag for their distinct style and unique thematic designs. For generations, the artistes of Gond tribe have been laboriously pursuing this art form.
The Prime Minister in his famous man ki baat talked about padmshri awardee Bhajju Shyam who is a renowned painter of this art-form. He was once a security guard in Jabalpur. During Prime Minister’s visit to Shahdol, the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented to him a beautiful Gond painting.
The Gond painting is a unique art form developed in due course of time replicating association of mankind with nature. It is practiced by one of the largest tribes in India the ‘Gond' who are predominantly dwelling in Madhya Pradesh.
The work of Gond artists is rooted in their folk tales; culture and story-tales.
These are the strong element of every painting. Gond painting depicts celebrations, rituals and man's relationship with nature. This mystical art form is created by putting together dots and lines. The imaginative use of the line imparts a sense of movement to the still images.
The artistes believe that good fortune befalls those whose eye meets a good image, so it is in the community's interest to be surrounded by beauty. For the Gond tribes, the function of art is not just restricted to practical and aesthetic pleasure; it also ensures a deep connection between the past and the present. The Gond artistes have firm belief that every act of painting is spiritual venture and is an act of prayer to the Unknown.
The Gond paintings are not only an offering in worship of nature, but are also a mode of seeking protection and warding off evils. Gond painting is based on the conviction that viewing a good image attracts good luck. They decorate their houses and the floors with traditional tattoos and motifs, drawn during festivals or rituals connected with seasonal changes like sowing of crops, onset of rains, harvest or on a significant occasion in their families such as birth, marriage, pregnancy and death. The themes and motifs are drawn from local flora and fauna, deities and urban culture.
Pictures of peacocks, birds, crabs, mythical beasts, lizards, lions, tigers, deer, snakes, wild boars, cows, monkeys, elephants, horses, and fish are the main subjects of Gond paintings. Mahua Tree as Tree of Life appears prominently as Mahua flowers, fruits, seeds, and leaves are used for many purposes by the Gond tribe.
Modern designs like airplanes, bicycles, cars etc, myths, legends, and aspects of the daily life also figure. Images of Gods mainly Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesha are also subjects. Local deities be Phulvari Devi, Jaharin Devi, Marahi Devi also find place distinctly. With all this, the central theme of Gond paintings is nature. The artists portray nature in various ways as they believe that the life of man and nature are interlinked.
A pattern is a decorative design that is repeated several times to fill an image. Each artist uses his own distinctive pattern and style to fill the images. These distinctive patterns are called signature patterns. Twigs, cotton swabs are used instead of brush.
