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Life of Tree

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Details

Artform

Traditional Gond Art, Madhya Pradesh

Artist

Venkat Shyam

Dimensions

48 x 36 In.

Medium

Natural Colors on Acid-Free Paper

Framing

Unframed

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The Painting

"This artwork hand-painted by Venkat Shyam is made in the tradition of Gond art. Nature and it’s conservation have long been a central motif in the Gond belief system. As in many other cultures, the central symbol of life and nature is that of a tree. Trees provide an essential function in the survival of our environment which is acknowledged by artists, philosophers and theologians all across the world. This has resulted in the creation of the Tree of life icon which is used extensively in Gond art. The image is painted in the traditional Gond style which involves fine lines, dots, and dashes but the composition itself is unique to Venkat Shyam who has over the years developed his signature style of traditional entwined with modern. The leaves are painted in a variety of colours and using various patterns that reflect the vast diversity of nature. A scarlet backdrop is painted behind the central tangle of leaves to provide contrast to the focus of the painting. At the foot of the tree we see various creatures gather around the tree to bask in its life giving power. The colorful palette comprises natural pigments drawn on canvas sheets which is a 20th-century phenomenon as the Gond paintings were produced on mud walls."

The Art

The Gond art originating in Madhya Pradesh derives its name from the Dravidian word kond which means ‘green mountain’. Over the years the Gond artists have developed a bold visual vocabulary that uses naturally occurring pigment colors such as black, deep red, white, and ochre. The geometric patterns involving dots are used to create an intricate image of animals and the natural environment with an infusion of a distinct style of each practicing Gond artist. The history of the Gond tribe goes back 1400 years ago, with it comes a heritage of Gond Pradhans, who were musicians and storytellers within the tribe, and the primarily practiced Gond art which has transcended from being painted on mud walls to canvas and papers. It is also popular in regions like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.

The Artist

Born in 1970, Venkat Shyam is a renowned name in the Indian Tribal art space. He apprenticed under his uncle Jangarh Singh Shyam, a renowned Gond artist for several years. He specializes in contemporary Pradhan Gond art, along with murals, etchings, mixed media, and animation. He is a recipient of the ‘Rajya Hasta Shilpa Puraskar’ and has exhibited in India as well as abroad such as in the exhibition Sakahàn: International Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Canada, in Ottawa (2013), Painted Songs & Stories, curated by John H. Bowles in the U.S.A (2010), Anadi organized by National Gallery of Moder Art, Mumbai (2004), and at the American embassy. He has published several books with his long-time collaborator S. Anand such as Finding My Way (2016) and Ganja Mahua Chronicles (2016).

Provenance

The painting has been created by Bridge Bharat’s master artist partners.

Customizations

"Want a unique artwork for that wall at home- one that resonates entirely with you? Please use the WhatsApp chat below or email us at aakanksha@bridgebharat.com to discuss your requirements with our team. "

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Shipping and Delivery

"For artworks that are made to order, the time to prepare each piece differs. Our team will inform you about the preparation time. You will receive updates on the behind-the-scenes prep every 4-5 days- we want you to be a part of the creation process. A ready item will be dispatched within 24 hours of placing the order. The item will be delivered 7-10 days after the product is dispatched. The artwork price is exclusive of shipping charges and insurance. Shipping charges will differ depending on the order size, weight and delivery location. You will be able to calculate shipping charges at checkout. The artwork price is inclusive of 12% GST In the event that the product is rejected by our quality check team, you will be informed about the change of delivery date. "

Other details

"The price you see is for an unframed painting. If you want us to custom frame the artwork, please drop us a message. We highly encourage this, framing is an art by itself :) The artwork you will receive is as close to the original artwork as possible but as with all things handmade, there may be minute differences in color and motifs, truly rendering each artwork one of a kind. Trust the process! "