Gond Art

What is Gond Art?

Gond is a form of Indian folk and tribal art named after the largest tribe of central India with the same name. The word Gond is a derivation of the konda word meaning green hill which consists of parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chattishgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Orissa. The inspiration behind Gond art is almost always nature and social customs represented through a repetitive patterning of dots and dashes. Each artist uses this patterning to create his or her own signature style while choosing colour schemes and subjects that are indicative of the communities they represent.

Gondi art traditionally adorns walls, ceilings, and sometimes even the floors of houses. They honour the festivals and customs of these tribes but is not limited to these themes. Quotidian subjects such as animals, nature and humans engaging in daily activity are also common themes. The subtlety of Gondi art is in how flat perspectives are brought to life by positioning warm earth tones next to vivid hues of other colours.

The mass appeal of Gond can be seen in how it has seeped into the mainstream where souvenirs and small household objects are covered in the Gondi style. This form was brought to the forefront when paintings by Jangarh Singh Shyam caught the eye of the Director of the Bharat Bhaven, a multi-arts complex in Bhopal. Jangarh expanded this art form in its traditional mural style but it was his son Bhajju Shyam who began to push the boundaries of form by using tradional Gond techniques in other mediums.

Try and replicate some of our Gond art works which you will find in our colouring pages.

For more interesting and informative Arts articles, visit our Art for Kids category.