When you look at beautiful birds paintings on a wall or at the eCraftIndia website, you will see beauty and intricate details, but have you ever taken the time to find out what style of painting it is. While the more modern ones might have been made on a computer, there are still several versions that are painstakingly created by hand. As a matter of fact, in India, you will find so many forms of painting and while some are starting to fade away, there are still those who are making the attempt to keep the art forms alive.
In continuation with our series on art forms that have been existed for centuries in India, we bring to you today a post on Gond art. As the name suggests, the art is related to a tribal community that is known as the Gond tribe and the tribe has existed in the central, southern and eastern parts of the country.
Gond Paintings

Who are the Gond people?

The Gond people belong to one of the largest tribes in India and their presence has been marked in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Bihar. And although these people are mainly into agriculture, there are some who work as daily wage labourers and some who are true practitioners of traditional Gond art. the word Gond actually comes from kond, which means green mountains and the tribals have been known to inhabit the hilly forests of the above-mentioned states. According to the Gond people, seeing a good image equates to good luck, which is why these ‘good’ images would be painted at the times of special events or festivals such as weddings, births, Diwali, Nag Panchami and so on.
Over the past several years, a number of measures have been taken to ensure that the artists are able to practice their art without being worried about anything. The government and other agencies have provided economic support to these artists and their art has been displayed nationally and internationally, bringing them fame and finances.

What is the history of Gond art?

While the history of the Gond people goes back more than 1400 years, it is believed that the art has been around since the people have. The Gond style is often described as a blend of patterns, colours, humour and a certain amount of mystery too! In the beginning, the paintings would be made on the walls of caves and then eventually homes. Then, the paintings were being made on the floors of the houses too, especially if there was a wedding in the home or a birth. The paintings were always images that were considered good signs or omens, because the Gond people felt that seeing good images brought good luck. The paintings were also meant to be used as historical records, which could pass on information and knowledge to the next generations.
In the 1980s, the then director of the Bharat Bhavan Museum, J Swaminathan wanted to put together an exhibition of tribal and urban art and with that purpose, he sent out his students to several villages to locate interesting art pieces. It was during that search that the students came across an incredible painter, Jangarh Singh Shyam, who was a Pardhan Gond, and one of the first people to make Gond painting on canvas. the Pardhans are a subgroup of the Gond tribe, but they are the most recognised for their artistic skills, including music and painting.

What are the most common themes in Gond art?

There are those who believe that Gond tribal painting has a lot of similarities with the Madhubani style, but they are truly distinctive in their own right. Gond art uses a lot more vibrant colours, but like Madhubani, the colours are obtained from natural ingredients, such as flowers, minerals, stones and vegetables. Over time, the artists created their own methods of working – dots would be painted first and that would allow them to gauge the volume of the final product. They would then start connecting the dots to bring the images to life and once the outer shapes were created, the colours would be filled in. The most beloved theme is nature, which is why you will see a lot of deer paintings, peacock paintings and elephant paintings. Similarly, trees are also important symbols, because they are important to man and animal alike – they provide food, shelter, material to build things and so on. The mahua, saja, pakri, peepal and tamarind trees are considered extremely important and can be seen constantly in the paintings. Scenes from the lives of the local people would also make appearances in the paintings, because these were also meant to encompass the hopes and dreams of the people.

How are Gond paintings made?

Initially, the Gond painting on wall was the way it was done, but over time, artists started using paper and canvas and even fabric. The colours that are used for the paintings are normally bright and vibrant – the most popular colours include red, yellow, blue and green, along with black and white. All these colours are obtained from natural products such as soil, charcoal, leaves and cow dung. Common patterns, also known as signature patterns, would include dots and dashes, fine and curved lines, geometrical shapes, shapes reminding of water drops, seeds and fish scales. Modern Gond painting is being made on a range of materials and with poster paints and regular canvas paints.
Finally, let’s take a look at the most frequently asked questions about Gond art –

  1. Which state is famous for Gond painting?
    Gond tribal art is practised in the states of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Bihar.
  2. What is special about Gond art?
    Gond art patterns are very symmetrical; it consists of dots and dashes, lines and other geometrical shapes.
  3. What tells us that Gond art has lived in India for thousands of years?
    The Gond people have been around for more than 1400 years and they have practised their art since the beginning.
  4. Are there any similarities between Gond and Australia’s Aboriginal art?
    It is believed that initially there were only two continents – Gondwana and Laurasia. Both India and Australia come from Gondwana, which is why there are similarities in the tribal roots. Paints for both forms are acquired from natural sources such as fruits, plants, soil and charcoal. Both styles use dots to complete their paintings and there is a similarity in terms of themes from nature as well.
  5. Can you see any god images in Gond art?
    Lord Ganesha paintings are very common in Gond art, apart from their local gods and goddesses.
  6. Who are the famous Gond artists?
    Sayed Haider Raza Gond art is famous as is Jangarh Singh Shyam. Other famous names include Nankusia Bai, Mayank Shyam, Subhash Vyam, Durgabai Vyam and Dhavat Singh Uikey.
  7. What are the modern versions of Gond art products?
    In order to keep their art form alive, Gond artists have chosen to use multiple mediums to showcase their art. as long as there is a smooth surface, it is a canvas. You will be able to find sarees, dress materials, trays, boxes and more with Gond artwork these days.
At eCraftIndia, our aim has been to offer a platform for artists from all over the country to showcase the talent that they have inherited from their ancestors. The results are often astounding and we are aware that they will make for exquisite additions to your interiors – whether you are looking for wall paintings online that will bring your office to life or animals paintings online that are perfect for your children’s room, there is so much to choose from at eCraftIndia.