Cultural Expressions of Indigenous People of Rural India

Adivasi Painting

The tradition of indigenous paintings is an ancient one, which can be traced back to the Neolithic period (approximately 3000-2500 BCE). Adivasis use traditional and natural materials to paint their imaginations and stories; they prepare their art ingredients from locally available resources such as wood, mud, stone, plants, and flowers. Different tribal groups' artistic expressions embody their creative uniqueness; their themes of drawings, style of painting (e.g., geometric vs. non-geometric), and use of colors/strokes (e.g., monochromatic vs. polychromatic) make them distinct from one another. Embedded symbolism, simplicity, and aesthetic beauty characterize their paintings, which embody narratives of their traditions, spirituality, and worldviews.

Three tribal painting styles are depicted in these videos: Warli, Santali, and Gond.

Watch:
Warli Painting: The Form of Tribal Art

The Making of Creation (0-6:30)

The Making of Creation from Tara Books on Vimeo.



Explore examples: Sohrai Wall Art (after visiting the page, please click the "more" link to see examples)


Reading: The Lyricism & Audacity of the Adivasi Imagination, by Durgabai Vyam

Additional Readings:

This page has paths:

This page references: