{"product_id":"a-herd-of-elephants-under-a-tree-in-gond-by-suresh-kumar-dhruve","title":"A Herd of Elephants under a Tree in Gond by Suresh Kumar Dhruve","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eThis striking Gond painting by Suresh Kumar Dhruve depicts a slender, soaring tree that provides both shade and nourishment to a herd of five elephants, against a warm yellow background. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGond art is a traditional Indian tribal art form practiced by the Gond community of Madhya Pradesh, acting as cultural memory and often depicting local deities, folklore, forests and animals that the community lived alongside. It is deeply connected to nature, with animals, trees, birds, rivers symbolising balance and coexistence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA distinctive feature of the artwork is the tree’s perfectly circular canopy, which glows with an inner orange hue, resembling a sun or a ripening fruit. The leaves on the branches of this canopy are divided into distinct color zones of red, deep blue and green, suggesting the changing seasons and the diverse life cycles contained within a single tree. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the base of the trunk, the interaction of the elephants adds a narrative layer of playfulness and collective effort. To the left of the trunk, three elephants are depicted standing together, as one of them stretches its trunk toward the lower edge of the canopy. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo the right, two elephants stand in a more grounded posture, their trunks gently curving toward the trunk of the tree, emphasizing a sense of touch and belonging. Each elephant is adorned with horizontal bands of alternating colors filled with rhythmic, dashed patterns that mimic the texture of thick hide while maintaining the painting's overall geometric harmony.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe tree is firmly anchored by a prominent root system, reflecting the Gond belief in balance that for a life to reach high, it must be deeply rooted in the earth. The elephants are not merely under the tree, they are part of its ecosystem, illustrating an ecological unity where the forest is a generous provider and the inhabitants are its grateful beneficiaries.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe artist has made use of his signature patterns “sidi-pidhi dar-pdhi” (a series of dashes, representing an art that has been passed on from one generation to another), \"ghisni\" (textures created by rubbing on paper using fingers or the thumb) and “gol dharti” (circles with dots inside, the circles representing the earth and the dot symbolizes living beings as just a small part of the bigger whole). This highlights the role of the artist and the community, interdependence and the importance of the environment in the Gond tradition, which is put forth in such visual art.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Suresh Kumar Dhruve","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48278902309078,"sku":null,"price":30000.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1194\/1498\/files\/1._A_Herd_of_Elephants_under_a_Tree_in_Gond_by_Suresh_Kumar_Dhruve.png?v=1779351777","url":"https:\/\/www.memeraki.com\/products\/a-herd-of-elephants-under-a-tree-in-gond-by-suresh-kumar-dhruve","provider":"Memeraki Retail and Tech Pvt Ltd.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}