What does it mean to belong to a forest? To speak its patterns, dream in its colours, and draw by hand a cosmology shaped not by borders but by memory?
In Gond, nature is not merely a theme, it is the origin, the archive and the animate world itself. At first, all the paintings seem the same. Vibrant creatures, dotted and patterned forms, a rhythmic repetition of line. However, if you stand long enough, you begin to notice the subtle differences in the seemingly similar dots and patterns. No two artists trace the same path through the world, and no two paintings are alike. What looks like repetition is, in fact, individual identity.
The exhibition brings together traditional Gond paintings and works that engage with both traditional and contemporary themes and styles. The artists adapt the visual language of Gond to speak to the modern world - not only in content, but in form, producing works that can inhabit contemporary homes without severing their connection to ancestral knowledge. At its core, Gond painting is a symbolic language, and through mythological tales, depictions of deities, and scenes of forests and animals, this exhibition explores how that language continues to evolve.
“Songs of the Forest” turns attention to the personal vocabularies of the Gond artists, the coded motifs, patterns that map their belonging, identity, and imagination. These are not just paintings, but personal cosmologies, built pattern by pattern.
This exhibition showcases the works of seven Gond Master Artists, each expressing their unique visual identity through distinct traditional patterns.
In Trishul and Naag, myth coils through memory — Shiva’s trident, the sacred serpent — drawn into ritual geometry.
In Rassi ka Dhera and Khaddar, fibre becomes form — the twist of coconut rope, the softness of cotton spun by hand.
In Parsa Paan, a betel leaf opens like a map of offering and inheritance.
Datari and Toran speak in symmetry — geometric rhythms that mark thresholds and anchor the eye.
In Beni and Half Juda, hair is remembered — pleated, parted, spiralled into the surface like the care of generations.
In Machli ka Jaal and Lahrdaar, nets are cast and tides rise — the water world alive in wave and lattice.
And in the concentric circles with a single bindu, community gathers — drawn to the centre, where the supreme spirit resides.
Curator: Misha Jaswal
Supported by:
- Content Research: Neeyati Rometra
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Creative Design: Debobarni Das and Swarnima Soni
- Marketing: Agrima Mohan
- Logistics: Bhaskar Pandit and Rohan Verma
- Website and Tech: Agrasha Sahu and Sanidhya Kashyap
Participating Artists:
Braj Bhooshan Dhurwey
An emerging artist from Patangarh, Dindori, Madhya Pradesh, Braj trained under Kailash Pradhan. Over the past 15 years, he has honed his skills in the intricate tradition of Gond. His signature patterns – “Rassi ka Dhera”, “Machli ka Jaal”, and “Half Juda” which weave rhythmic geometry with organic movement, giving his works a distinctive visual identity.
Gareeba Singh Tekam
A distinguished artist from Patangarh, Dindori, Madhya Pradesh. Gareeba has been practicing Gond for over 30 years. He learned the art from the renowned pioneer of Gond - Jangarh Singh Shyam. His distinctive style is characterized by unique patterns such as “Maya Jaal” and “Trishul”.
Kailash Pradhan
A dedicated Gond artist from Sunpuri, Patangarh, Madhya Pradesh, Kailash’s rich artistic journey spans over 15 years. His paintings are recognised for their distinctive patterns – “Chher-Chhera”, “Khaddar”, and “Parsa Paan” which add rhythm to his compositions.
Sandeep Dhurve
A young Gond artist from Patangarh, Dindori, Madhya Pradesh, Sandeep trained under Suresh Kumar, a student of renowned Jangarh Singh Shyam. His paintings feature signature patterns such as “Wrinkles”, “Liger”, “Memory”, and “Interconnection”, reflecting his interest in relationships between forms, ideas, and the natural world.
Saroj Venkat Shyam
An accomplished female Gond artist, Saroj learned the art from her husband, Venkat Shyam. Drawing from her Nagvanshi lineage, she employs the “Naag” motif, a symbol of ancestry and strength in her paintings.
Sukhiram Maravi
A dedicated Gond artist from Bhusanda, Dindori, Madhya Pradesh, Sukhiram has spent over 15 years practicing the intricate Gond painting tradition. He finds joy in capturing the essence of wildlife and tribal life. His distinctive style is characterized by the unique patterns “Datari” and “Torana” adding rhythm to his compositions.
Venkat Raman Singh Shyam
A visionary artist from the Gond community, Venkat began painting at the age of 10 under the tutelage of his uncle Jangarh Singh Shyam. Over the last four decades, he has developed a distinctive style marked by “Bindu and concentric half-circle” motifs. His mastery has earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious State Award.
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