Gond Paintings by Venkat Raman Singh Shyam October 7, 2009

Gond Paintings by Venkat Raman Singh Shyam. Throughout our history , we find a definite established tradition of painting on various objects , specially on intimate objects of daily use , floors , walls ; and in every case, the depiction is associated with some ritual . Folk paintings of Madhya Pradesh , specially the wall paintings of Bundelkhand , Gondwana , Nimar and Malwa are living expressions of people intrinsically linked with the social and cultural ambience of the area . They are not just mere decorations but also spontaneous outpourings of religious devotions . Tribal paintings though popular among most tribes in Madhya Pradesh , is well developed as an art among the Gond tribe of Mandala District . The Gonds are the largest tribal group in Madhya Pradesh and are well known for their rich cultural heritage which is seen in their stories , music , dance and paintings . The word Gond comes from the Dravidian expression kond , meaning green mountain . Gond paintings are fascinating , where the artists express their faiths and beliefs , world view , their visual expression and sense of identity , both as a collective , and as individuals . Gond paintings are based basically on line work . The artists draw the inner and outer lines with utmost care that are so striking in their precision and perfection . The imaginative use of the line imparts a sense of movement of still images . These paintings are found in the inner and outer walls of the houses , windows and niches . The colours are mainly black and white , red , blue and yellow . The paintings are based on the oral narratives of the Gonds . The motifs are further associated with the rich repertoire of the community and strongly show the interactions with the cosmic , natural and social worlds of humans at multiple levels and contexts . Local deities , cock fights , forest scenes , agriculure, marriages and other rituals find a place in these paintings . Gond artists paint their lives vividly , drawing from their heritage which gives them a rich canvas. Shyam Venkat Raman Singh - was born in 1970 to a family of the Pradhan tribal community of Gonds . He started painting at the age of 10 , but as the family was too poor , he had to work as a daily labourer and stop studying . However he perservered in his art and inspired by the legendary Gond artist Jangarh Singh Shyam and renowned contemporary artist J.Swaminathan , he dedicated himself to Gond painting . He has shown in many exhibitions in India , Spain and UK and has won many awards including the Madhya Pradesh State Award , 'The tallest story competition' trophy in Scotland . He is helped in his painting by his wife and they live in Bhopal.

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