Fish Lion in Gond by Suresh Kumar Dhruve

This striking Gond painting by Suresh Kumar Dhruve presents a mesmerizing blend of terrestrial and aquatic life. In this composition, the form of a majestic lion is entirely constructed from, and intertwined with, a massive school of fish. It stands as a brilliant visual manifestation of the Gond belief that different realms of nature are not separate, but unified.

Gond 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.

In this painting, the silhouette of the lion is ingeniously composed of overlapping aquatic motifs, creating a powerful sense of hybridity. The main torso and head of the lion are rendered in a rich, warm ochre-orange. Instead of fur, the body is meticulously filled with rhythmic, concentric scales. The lion’s mane is formed by a radiant, halo-like explosion of slender, white-and-black striped tendrils, each terminating in a small blue fish with a red head. These fish radiate outward like solar flares, giving the lion a celestial, kingly aura.

The legs of the lion are multi-segmented, patterned with horizontal bands of earthy greens, browns, and ochres, and detailed with fine white stippling. The hind and front upper joints feature large, stylized fish heads pointing downward, transforming the anatomy of the beast into marine life. Extending from the belly of the beast, a root-like network reaches toward the ground, blending the concept of aquatic life with botanical anchoring.

A medium-sized fish is depicted halfway inside the lion's open mouth, capturing a moment of consumption. Yet, because the lion itself is made of fish, it blurs the line between the predator and the prey suggesting that what sustains an animal becomes a part of its very identity. A large, prominent fish with a red head and striped body stretches across the lower half of the lion, cutting horizontally across its legs. Another fish stands vertically near the lion's hindquarters, acting almost like protective armor or a dynamic structural pillar.

The 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.

The profound ecological philosophy of interdependence is captured through this complex surrealism. By utilizing fish, symbols of water, fertility and life, to construct a lion, a symbol of land, strength and fire, two opposing ecosystems are bridged. Every element, down to the tiny blue fish weaving across the lion's torso, emphasizes that life forms do not merely coexist; they flow into one another, sharing a single, universal life force.

Each of our artworks are hand painted by master artists across India. We provide a digital authentication certificate with this artwork signed by the artist which will be sent over email after 3-4 days of delivery of the artwork.

View Sample Here

The sizes mentioned are excluding the borders of the artwork. Frames shown are for visual representation only and are not included with the artwork.

Customisation

Most artworks can be customised in terms of colours, size and elements to fit your requirements.

For custom artwork orders, please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at wecare@memeraki.com to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Framing Services

No, we currently sell artworks unframed (unless explicitly mentioned otherwise) and do not provide framing services.

We ship worldwide.

Domestic Orders

All prices are inclusive of GST and applicable Indian taxes.

• We offer free shipping on orders above ₹1999 for all artworks, except Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri.
• A flat shipping rate of ₹499 applies to orders below ₹1999.

Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri

Shipping is charged on a per-kilogram basis, due to the delicate and bulky nature of these items.

International Orders

• A flat shipping charge of ₹4,000 applies to international artwork orders.
• Customs duties, taxes, or import charges in the buyer’s country are not included and must be borne by the buyer.
• Shipping rates for Lippan, Terracotta and Thikri artworks will be calculated based on weight.

Additonal Shipping Charges

Extra charges may be applicable for both domestic and international deliveries in the following cases:

• If the article requires additional packaging (such as a wooden crate) to ensure safe shipping due to its delicate nature.
• Custom-framed artworks.
• Artworks where shorter side exceeds 36 inches or Decor items with any side over 35 inches.
• If you request express shipping. Contact support to check availability.
• The order contains more than two different product types.

You can proceed with your purchase, and our team will contact you to confirm any applicable additional shipping charges before processing your order. Alternatively, reach out to us on WhatsApp or email, and we'll assist you in completing your purchase with the final pricing.

All artworks are handmade and couriered securely in transit safe packaging sutaible for the artwork.

This artwork will be Made to Order and will take 2-3 weeks to be made and shipped. Returns are not applicable on Made To Order artworks.

Once your order is placed, our team stays in constant communication with the artist to track the progress and ensure the quality of your order. You will receive regular updates from us throughout this process.

All MeMeraki artworks are hand-painted. In rare occasions, artist may face delays due to weather, health, prior commitments or force majeure. Our team will reach out to you with revised timelines in case of such delays. We appreciate your understanding and patience in such situations.

All artworks on the website are hand painted from scratch by our master artists. This makes every artwork absolutely unique and the actual colour and overall artwork may vary slightly from the artwork image posted here.