Mother Earth in Gond by Suresh Kumar Dhruve

This complex and deeply spiritual Gond painting by Suresh Kumar Dhruve is a visual theological statement, mapping the cosmic and cultural worldview of the Gond community. Spanning a vast vertical composition against a mottled, earth-toned background, the artwork links the celestial realm of the gods with the physical realm of Mother Earth, showcasing a profound cosmic and ecological interconnectedness.

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 composition, the upper half of the canvas is dominated by a perfectly circular tree canopy, representing the universe. Emerging as the very spine of this universe is the Bana (a traditional three-stringed fiddle), which serves as the tree's trunk. In Gond culture, the Bana is a sacred instrument played by Pradhan bards to invoke Bada Dev, the supreme deity who resides in the sacred Saja tree. The instrument is split into a textured wooden neck and a vibrant pink dotted soundbox.

Branching directly out from this divine musical trunk is an expansive network of pink limbs stretching out as branches. This foliage is a bustling ecosystem, teeming with dozens of tiny, multi-colored birds in shades of blue, green and yellow, showing how all life flows directly from the breath of the divine creator.

As the sacred trunk extends downward, it transitions seamlessly into the lower half of the painting, culminating in a striking depiction of Dharti Mata (Mother Earth). Mother Earth is personified as a powerful deity with long black hair and a serene countenance. She wears a green striped skirt detailed with fine, vertical line-work, mirroring the foundational textures seen throughout Gond art. In a style reminiscent of traditional Indian iconography, she possesses a fan of numerous radiating arms.

Rather than carrying weapons, each of her arms holds up a segment of Gond tribal life. Arranged along these limbs is an entire cultural cosmology including deer, cattle, boars, mice, birds, dancing figures and farmers actively tilling the soil or hunting. Each arm terminates in a vibrant green orb, symbolizing agricultural abundance and the literal fruits of the earth.

At the very base of the composition, Mother Earth rests upon three large, stylized owl heads. In tribal folklore, these subterranean guardians act as the foundational pillars of the underworld, physically supporting the weight of Mother Earth and the entire terrestrial world above them. They are rendered with large, concentric white eyes and heavy, patterned brows, providing a grounded, watchful base to the entire cosmic tree.

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 painting flows beautifully from the supreme spirit (Bada Dev), through the provider of physical life (Mother Earth), down to the foundational spirits in the form of owls. It stands as a brilliant testament to the Gond philosophy that religion, daily labor, animal life and the environment are not distinct categories, but rather strings of the same sacred instrument, vibrating together in absolute harmony.

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.