ARANYA- A Folk Story
The Gondwana region is in the heart of the Indian subcontinent – the term from which the prehistoric ‘Gondwanaland’ was derived. The art form of the region’s native people reveals an aesthetic language gleaned from a profound relationship with the natural world, its sounds and forms – with songs and stories, organic dots, lines, swirls, and vibrant colours that envelope the environment and all its spirits.
Coming from a tradition of performative folklore, the Pradhan Gond artist community from Madhya Pradesh has forged a unique visual identity, adopting various mythologies and histories as subject matter while producing newer iterations of nature themes. Their artworks revolve around the intersection of the divine with the worldly, and the sacred with the secular – integral qualities of the Indian cultural landscape that inspire myriad spaces of artistic expression. Interestingly, the art form blossomed in exile and became recognized because of its presence at Bharat Bhavan, an art centre developed under the aegis of artist Swaminathan in the early 80s, meant for symbiotic interaction between diverse art expressions.Venkat Raman Singh Shyam, nephew of the illustrious (late) Jhangarh Singh Shyam, to whom the popularity of the style has been attributed, established himself as a practicing artist quite late in his career and took to it with zeal. He has since been experimenting in a deeply individualistic manner while also working playfully with newer mediums and collaborative platforms as his repertoire and audiences expand. He responds spontaneously to human encounters, places and atmospheres, arriving at personalized symbolism and a meaningful correlation between conceptual and visual elements.Notions of home and belonging, love and desire, friendships and codependence appear as primary threads of exploration in the artist’s work – the themes he returns to even as he responds to topical situations and events, like the dreaded corona-virus currently; it’s impact and the condition of our planet are not unconnected to him. A masterful colourist and draftsperson, Venkat Shyam builds visual tension between monochromatic backgrounds and detailed forms that are often camouflaged with each other in seamless design, as seen in the ‘Horses’. Harmonious unions and the celebration of various aspects of love feature in works like ‘Meetings’ in which the figures meld into each other, the feeling attenuated by the complementarity of their patterned bodies. Dynamic movement through linear elements and articulated space are other devices that bring his works to life, as in the ‘Doves’ – portrayed against a vibrant red background, the intricately feathered birds appear poised mid-air, in a dance of courtship amidst blossoms. The reiterated pairing of sensuous beings in Venkat Shyam’s images compels us to reconsider our own relationship and place within ecology, and to question what we need to do in order to safeguard its balance.
Coming from a tradition of performative folklore, the Pradhan Gond artist community from Madhya Pradesh has forged a unique visual identity, adopting various mythologies and histories as subject matter while producing newer iterations of nature themes. Their artworks revolve around the intersection of the divine with the worldly, and the sacred with the secular – integral qualities of the Indian cultural landscape that inspire myriad spaces of artistic expression. Interestingly, the art form blossomed in exile and became recognized because of its presence at Bharat Bhavan, an art centre developed under the aegis of artist Swaminathan in the early 80s, meant for symbiotic interaction between diverse art expressions.Venkat Raman Singh Shyam, nephew of the illustrious (late) Jhangarh Singh Shyam, to whom the popularity of the style has been attributed, established himself as a practicing artist quite late in his career and took to it with zeal. He has since been experimenting in a deeply individualistic manner while also working playfully with newer mediums and collaborative platforms as his repertoire and audiences expand. He responds spontaneously to human encounters, places and atmospheres, arriving at personalized symbolism and a meaningful correlation between conceptual and visual elements.Notions of home and belonging, love and desire, friendships and codependence appear as primary threads of exploration in the artist’s work – the themes he returns to even as he responds to topical situations and events, like the dreaded corona-virus currently; it’s impact and the condition of our planet are not unconnected to him. A masterful colourist and draftsperson, Venkat Shyam builds visual tension between monochromatic backgrounds and detailed forms that are often camouflaged with each other in seamless design, as seen in the ‘Horses’. Harmonious unions and the celebration of various aspects of love feature in works like ‘Meetings’ in which the figures meld into each other, the feeling attenuated by the complementarity of their patterned bodies. Dynamic movement through linear elements and articulated space are other devices that bring his works to life, as in the ‘Doves’ – portrayed against a vibrant red background, the intricately feathered birds appear poised mid-air, in a dance of courtship amidst blossoms. The reiterated pairing of sensuous beings in Venkat Shyam’s images compels us to reconsider our own relationship and place within ecology, and to question what we need to do in order to safeguard its balance.
Lina Vincent 2020
“Art has the power to bring about change and positivity. These are challenging times, for all of us. Let us make an effort to sustain art and creativity and channelize it further to help those affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. With this aim in mind the gallery shall donate percentages of proceeds to charities and NGOs working tirelessly towards aiding & rehabilitating those suffering due to #COVID19”
Note : Works shall be delivered after lockdown period ends.
