Whilst in Bhopal, we will be visiting some tribal artists making wonderful images that reflect their traditional way of life and connection to the natural world.
The Gonds are among the largest tribes in Central India, numbering about 4 million. The word “Gond” comes from the Dravidian expression kond, meaning “the green mountain.” The recorded history of the Gond people goes back 1400 years, but considering that they inhabit areas where rock paintings dating to the Mesolithic have been found, their antecedents probably date back even further. Many of the Gonds customs echo that of their Mesolithic forbearers. An obvious example of this is the custom of decorating the walls of their houses, an activity that may originate in cave-dwelling traditions of their ancestors.
Now, most Gond artists use paper and inks to record their stories.
Tree of Life – Gond tribal art
Forest animal – Gond tribal art
