Group exhibition of folk and tribal art on at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

Team L&M

If tribal and folk are is what interests you, you are in for a treat, if you are in Delhi-NCR that is. The OPS Art Gallery has organised a group show Reflection of Tribes which is all about Indian folk and tribal art works. Curated by Kiran Kethline Mohan, the exhibition is being held at Open Palm Court Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

The participating artists include Anil Chaityavangad, Bhuri Bai, D Pavan, Durga Bai Vyam, Gariba Singh Tekam, Kalpana Chitrakar, Pooman Katoch, Praveen Joshi, among others.

The folk and tribal art traditions of India are the true guardians of our ‘Mother Nature’ and are constant visual reminders to us ‘humans’. The tradition to emulate Nature and rituals has begun to reflect in our modern life and aspirations. Although, these have evidently undergone a massive change over a period of time. In their own subtle way, these folk and tribal art forms carry the message that we must respect and safeguard our global resources so as to leave a better future for our forthcoming generations to enjoy.

Gond Art by Japani Shyam and a Kalamkari work (right)

Each season abounds with a purely different natural splendor to be explored and admired at. The spring brings new blooms full of hope, the fall has a delicate display of colours to the winter’s magic and the energies of the summers.

Various forms of folk and tribal art that are on display at the show include Warli Tribal Painting, Gond Tribal Painting, Kalamkari, Phad painting, Hazaribagh Tribal Painting, Bengal Patachitra, Bhil Tribal Painting, Rautawa Painting, Leather Puppet Art, Kerala Mural Painting, Sanjhi Art, Kangra Miniature painting, Cheriyal Painting, Saura Painting and Bhuta Masks.

“India in its diverse nature has its own interesting conventional and social characteristics and each of its regions have their own local style and community workmanship, which is rustic in nature,” says Mohan adding that each of the art works put up at the exhibition has its own story to tell. “Despite the fact that these folk and tribal forms have seen a transformation over the years, be it in the medium, design, adoption of modern methods of creating different surfaces or gathering inspiration from the surroundings, true craftsmanship is carried from generations down to create a legacy for itself and a showcasing of creative vitality. All of this showcases ‘traditional modernity’,” says Mohan.

The show is on till November 23, 2022, 11am to 7pm