Important Notice

One of the largest tribes in Central India, the Gonds-who hail predominantly from Madhya Pradesh, as well as some neighbouring states-have a history dating back 1400 years. The origin of the word "Gond' is rooted in the Dravidian expression "kond," which means "the green mountain." "The Gonds paint their walls with vibrant depictions of local flora, fauna and gods... Traditionally made on festive occasions... Gond painting depicts various... One of the largest tribes in Central India, the Gonds-who hail predominantly from Madhya Pradesh, as well as some neighbouring states-have a history dating back 1400 years. The origin of the word "Gond' is rooted in the Dravidian expression "kond," which means "the green mountain." "The Gonds paint their walls with vibrant depictions of local flora, fauna and gods... Traditionally made on festive occasions... Gond painting depicts various celebrations, rituals and man's relationship with nature. The artists use natural colors derived from charcoal, colored soil, plant sap, leaves, and cow dung. 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 paintings are an offering in worship of nature, and are also a mode of seeking protection and warding off evil." ("Gond Art and Painting: Past, Present and Future," isha.sadhguru.org, online)

Born in 1970, Ram Singh Urveti trained under celebrated Gond artist Jangarh Singh Shyam and honed his artistic skills. Over time, Urveti began making waves in the contemporary art world. In 1988, he was given a mention in the 41st Lalit Kala Akademi National Exhibition, followed by the South-central Zone Cultural Centre Award for Tribal Art the same year. In 2001, he won the Kalidas Award, and a few years later he received the Bolognaragazzi Award from Italy for The Night Life of Trees, a collaborative book of paintings with Gond artists Durga Bai and Bhajju Shyam.

Urveti's imagery draws from the ancestral songs of the Gonds, passed down through generations. The tree-a favoured motif-is omnipresent in his works. "The subjects painted are informal. Evanescent in nature, they belong to the spirit world. Buffalos, totems, men, shamans, offering jars, snakes and intertwining trees are transformed and mutate into improbable silhouettes, those in dreams and folktales. The absence of any contour to outline the shapes, except for the eyes, strengthens this effect." (galerielouisgendre.com, online)