Gond Painting

Description

About the Craft:: Gond painting is the folk and tribal form of art that is practiced by one of the largest tribes in India ? the Gond. The Gond, are the largest Adivasi Community in India who are predominantly from Madhya Pradesh, but can also be found in pockets of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh, and Odisha. The work of Gond artists is rooted in their folk tales and culture, based on a strong element of story-telling. According to the Gond belief system, all things are inhabited by a spirit and, consequently, are sacred. Gond paintings are a reflection of man?s close connection with his natural surroundings and very often are narratives from ancient legends, folklores, fantasies and aspirations.
About the Artisan:: Kailash Kumar Pradhan comes from the Patangadh village in Pindori district of Madhya Pradesh. He started making Gond Paintings in 2010 after drawing inspiration from his uncle. After five years of rigourous training to perfect his art, he started exhibiting his works at Dastkar Bazaars for the first time in 2015. Today, Kailash works along with other family members that include his brother, wife and cousin sisters. He encourages other Gond artists from his region to make art and supports them by exhibiting their works whenever he travels to urban centres.