The Elephant: Gond painting by Venkat Shyam
The Elephant: Gond painting by Venkat Shyam
The Elephant Gond Art Work for Sale
The Elephant: Gond painting by Venkat Shyam
The Elephant: Gond painting by Venkat Shyam
The Elephant Gond Art Work for Sale

The Elephant: Gond painting by Venkat Shyam

"If by our hand this mighty Wild

Should vanish from the earth, 

What could we tell the Future's child

And what would be our worth? "

~Terry Dawson

Gond paintings are a form of painting from folk and tribal art that is practiced by one of the largest tribes in India with whom it shares its name. Gond comes from the Dravidian expression, Kong which means ‘the green mountain’. According to the Gond belief system, each and everything whether it is a hill, river, rock or a tree is inhabited by a spirit and, consequently, is sacred. So the Gond people paint them as a form of respect and reverence. These paintings are a reflection of man’s close connection with his natural surroundings.

Venkat Raman Singh Shyam was 10 when he picked up pieces of charcoal and adorned every inch of the walls of his home and scraps of newspaper with sketches of all that he saw in his village. Born into a Gond Pardhan family in Sejohra village of Madhya Pradesh, Venkat has entrenched himself in the world of Art for the last 4 decades. Training under his uncle, famed Gond artist late Jangarh Singh Shyam, Venkat learnt to develop his own unique style while visually narrating ancient tales of his community and modern-day scenes of the world around him.

An imploring appeal from our Gond Artist, Venkat Shyam,  to protect the mighty elephant with this beautiful rendition of an elephant.

DETAILS

  • Size : 30x42” inches
  • Arylic on paper
  • Price is for unframed painting and painting would be sent without a frame
  • The image shown here is representative to help visualise the painting in a home setting and not an actual framed image
  • Paintings that are sold out can be made to order in 3-4 weeks
  • COD cannot be accepted as a payment option for paintings
  • Certificate of Authentication will be provided
  • Please write to us at yosha.gupta@memeraki.com for any customisation in size or ping us on the website chat.

• The image shown here is representative to help visualize the painting in a home setting. Price specified is for unframed painting and the painting would be sent without a frame unless specified otherwise in the description.
• All paintings are mostly made to order and take 2-3 weeks
• COD cannot be accepted as a payment option for paintings
• Certificate of Authentication will be provided
• Please write to us at yosha.gupta@memeraki.com for any customisation in size or ping us on the website chat


Artist


Venkat Raman Singh Shyam


“Every artist from the Gond community has developed a unique style and patterning for their art. For me, it is the Bindu or dot (symbolising the supreme god) and the half moon around it (symbolising our village and community). I see so much similarity between my work and that of Dali and Picasso!”
Venkat Raman Singh Shyam was 10 when he picked up pieces of charcoal and adorned every inch of the walls of his home and scraps of newspaper with sketches of all that he saw in his village. Born into a Gond Pardhan family in Sejohra village of Madhya Pradesh, Venkat has entrenched himself in the world of Art for the last 4 decades. Training under his uncle, famed Gond artist late Jangarh Singh Shyam, Venkat learnt to develop his own unique style while visually narrating ancient tales of his community and modern day scenes of the world around him.

The essence of Venkat’s art is rooted in the crossroad where ancient oral histories meet with independent vision. “Change is the ultimate rule of nature and the universe. While the theme of my paintings are rooted in my traditions and mythology, my narrative constantly adapts to reach out to varied audiences” says Venkat.



Art Form

Gond

 

Songs of the Forests

The living traditions of Gond paintings -

In the depths of Madhya Pradesh, India, beats the heart of the Gonds- a tribe as old as time. As the community bard (singers) or Pardhan invokes their Great God- Bada Deo- while playing the Bana instrument, he fulfills the crucial task of keeping alive the legendary tales of the ancient Gond kings. Every story, song, dance, and painting brings the community together in a shared celebration of nature and the universe.

The Gond tribe has several branches or gotras, each with its own story of origin. The Pardhans, they say, are descended from the youngest of seven Gond brothers who became a priest and a storyteller on the instruction of Bada Deo.

As the ancient tribal fable unfolds in the 21st century, the gond artist’s vivid paintings narrate tales of their faiths and beliefs, world view, their visual expression and sense of identity - both as a collective , and as individuals. Vibrant colours and animated motifs filled with intricate patterns of dots and dashes bring their mythical jungle to life. Trees, animals, birds, the sky, water, and earth sway and dance to the rhythm of the Pardhan’s tunes and brush strokes.

Gond traditions and fables are a reflection of man’s close connection with his natural surroundings. The Gond painting transports you to the seamless world of the imaginative and the surprising.

 

Here are some beautifully handcrafted Gond paintings and products



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