A Glance into the Rich Indian Tribal Art

Portraying a rich cultural heritage, India has stood out in the world map for centuries. The vibrancy stands testimony to the traditional richness of the country. With 29 states and 7 union territories have highly influenced the art forms and the cultural landscape of the country, which introduces a variety in the same. Every region in the country has its own pattern and style of art, which is known as folk art. On a microscopic level, since these arts are created by different tribes, the name tribal art has become immensely familiar with us all. 

Simple yet majestic, colorful and vivacious, these art forms speak much of the country’s rich heritage history. Indian tribal art forms have become extremely popular all across the world owing to its amazing appeal. The tribal art carries this distinctive colors and patterns, which allow these to stand out in a populated art landscape. From mythical motifs to religious representations, the tribal art form is as mesmerizing as it gets. It is the creativity of these tribal art forms that further gives them the reputation that they enjoy.

Now, there are different types of tribal art forms in India, however, let us focus on some of the most popular versions. To understand the tribal art form, it is essential to comprehend these various forms. Keep reading to find out more. 

Patua 

Patua is one of those tribal art forms that has stood the test of time and has impressed the art enthusiasts for years. Traditionally, this type of art is made on a piece of handmade paper that is placed on a cloth for increased stability. Patua is mostly about narrating mythological scenes. The artists would travel (and still do) to various villages and sing the stories depicted on the pictures. The use of bright shades allows Patua to make the kind of impression it does. 

Pattachitra 

Pattachitra is an art form that belongs to the state of Orissa, particularly to the region of Puri, a famous pilgrim site for the Hindus. This version of the tribal art and sculpture form focuses on bringing to life deities using bright strokes of color. Narrating epics that follow religious themes, Pattachitra is characterized by sharp, bold lines. The heavy Mughal influence can be witnessed highly in the paintings. This type of art is usually crafted on clothes.  

Bhil 

Bhil is one of the oldest tribes in India that are often traced back to the ancestry of the powerful archer Ekalavya from the epic Mahabharata. Found in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, this is one of the oldest tribal art forms in India. Bhil art uses vibrant colors that reflects all types of natural phenomenon and scenes like trees, rivers, animals, Gods, and mythological creatures. The innate scenes can be seen both on papers and on walls. The artists use herbal colors and vegetable dyes to bring the pictures to life. 

Saura 

Found in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra, Saura was created by a jungle tribe that roamed around these places many years ago. This form of art displays the glory of nature, with every painting centering around a central concept known as the “Tree of Life.” Every branch of this tree acts as a home to humans and animals. The idea is to showcase the intricate relationship between man and environment. The colors used for this version of art is natural and derived from various trees like neem, sisal, various types of herbs and flowers. 

To Conclude 

Indian tribal art forms have mesmerized art enthusiasts from around the globe due to their magnificent aesthetic presence and appeal. There are many such art forms like Madhubani, Warli, Gond, Kalighat, and Kalamkari which are in high demand even today. 

Indian tribal art forms are appreciated worldwide and with more and more exposure in the mainstream art circuit, the upcoming years can change the face of the tribal art forms completely. With popular art galleries like Gallery Must Art displaying masterpieces rendering to the same, you can experience the tribal art and sculptures first hand.

5 Beautiful Ancient Folk Art Forms That Still Exist Today

India is known for its rich art and cultural heritage. For centuries, Indian artists have given to the world masterpieces. Owing to cultural diversity, India developed a distinct form of folk art, which reflects the abundance and uniqueness of the country.
Folk art has been untouched by modernization. It still exists, in its purity, boastful of untainted beauty. Yes, folk art has been adopted in modern forms and are frequently used by contemporary artists, but the true art still exists. From depicting gods to religions, flora to fauna, daily life activities to random patterns, Indian folk art is a mesmerizing collection of exclusivity.
With art galleries in Delhi adding more of the folk versions to their collection, here has been summarized five folk art paintings that exist still today in all its glory. Keep reading to find out more.



Madhubani

The existence of Madhubani paintings can be traced back to the Indian epic of Ramayana. Also known as Mithila art, for it seems to have originated in the kingdom with the same name (present-day Bihar), Madhubani is one of the most popular folk art forms in India. It is believed that Madhubani was practiced by women who wanted to be closer to God. The delicate geometric patterns mostly depict Indian deities, flora, and fauna. The existence of the art form was not known to the world until the 1930s when an earthquake revealed houses consisting of the paintings. It was discovered by British officers, who found extreme similarities between Madhubani art form and Picasso’s work. This art form is extremely popular and is often amalgamated with modern art forms.

Kalamkari 

Kalamkari literally means “drawing with a pen” and has existed for years. The Kalamkari art form is divided into two types- Machilipatnam and Srikalahasti. Both these forms originate from the state of Andhra Pradesh, however, from two different districts, Machilipatnam and Chitoor respectively. While Machilipatnam showcases a block-print form of art, Srikalahasti is highlighted by the free strokes and movements of a pen. There is no limit to the concept when it comes to Kalamkari. From depicting Indian epics to flora and fauna, this form of art includes a wide range of topics. In the modern landscape of art, Kalamkari is mostly used on ethnic clothing. 

Miniature Painting 

This art form is often mistaken for its size, but it is the magnificence of the paintings that allow these to stand out. The intricate details on the paintings capture accurate expressions, making these look real. The miniature painting originated during the Mughal era, under the rule of Akbar. Later, it was cherished and upheld by Shah Jahan. The Persian influence on the painting is visible highly. The women have big eyes, a pointed nose, and a slim waist, which are typical features of Persian paintings. The men in these paintings are also seen wearing turbans. The art form was later adopted by the Rajputs and is highly popular in modern Rajasthan.

Gond 

Created by the Gondi tribe in Madhya Pradesh, Gond is a folk art that is characterized by its closeness to nature. This folk art is best characterized by its bold and vibrant paintings that depict the best of flora and fauna. It is the use of bright colors that make the Gond paintings stand out. The colors used to make the early Gond paintings were made of cow dung, charcoal, colored soil, and leaves. Lines and dots were inherently used to complete the paintings. The art form has existed for a long time, however, its entry to mainstream art happened during the 1960s by Jangarh Singh Shyam. The modern versions of Gond paintings are made using acrylic colors.

Warli

Originated in the Western Ghats during 2500 BCE, Warli is one of the oldest art forms to exist in the country. The Warli tribe used geometric patterns like circles, squares, and triangles along with other forms to depict daily activities like hunting, fishing, dancing, celebrating festivals and many more. The human figures in Warli art form are showcased using a circle and two triangles, which adds to its uniqueness. Another aspect that makes Warli different is the representation of the figures and shapes in white over a white background. The art form has existed for so long and has still retained its significance in the modern world.

To Conclude

India has a gorgeous and magnificent collection of folk art, some of which has existed for hundreds of years. The folk art forms not only give us a glance into the life of the ancient people but also reflects the rich cultural heritage of the country. 

Understanding the Difference between Fine Art and Decorative Art

The world of art is dynamic and vast. Originating from the Latin word “Artem” which means “work of art, practical skill, a business or a craft”, art is subjective and open to speculation. What might be interesting to one, might not appeal to other people at all. It includes art forms and types of different kinds, each inspired by the time of its existence. Art movements also had a profound impression on the kind of art that was developed during a time. Amidst this vast forms, there are two such forms which are widely popular but seldom discussed. These two forms are namely- fine arts and decorative arts. 

In the strictest of the sense of the word, Fine art is defined as creative art especially visual arts which can be seen and appreciated for being imaginative or having an intellectual content. Decorative art, on the other hand, includes objects like tableware or textiles that are both beautiful and functional in nature. 

The two separate nature of these art forms makes them unique and interesting for art enthusiasts. To understand these forms better, it is better to delve deep into the subject. 

About Fine Art

The term was historically introduced as “visual arts”, it was only later that the etymology ‘fine art’ came into existence. Most of the pieces exhibited in art galleries and museums are categorized under this type. Fine art can be anything, from tribal and folk art paintings to sculptures, drawings to photographs, prints to lithographs. With the start of the 20th century, as humankind made advancements in science, fine art started including digital videos as well. This type of art is recognized for being ephemeral in nature. Highly perceptive and conceptual, the representation of a piece depends on an artist or an art enthusiast’s interpretation. Due to this, experts find it hard to define Fine art. A piece which is considered a classic right now might just lose its relevance in the future. The validity of Fine art is highly dependent on the audience, to say the least. 

About Decorative Art 

Unlike Fine art, the concept of decorative art hinges on both aesthetic appeal and high functionality. This category of art includes metalwork, woodwork, textiles, ceramics, cutlery and pottery to name a few. These objects are used in our daily lives, however, it is their appeal that is beautified and improved. From an ancient time, furniture, tapestries and even urns and bowls with decorative designs have garnered attention from enthusiasts. It is believed that these decorative art forms are the perfect reflection of the period they build in. Decorative art was always considered to be a form of mainstream art and thus its popularity is justified. 

Though these two forms of art are completely different from each other, they individually uphold a lot about the era and the artist’s style. Though artists involved in creating decorative art are often termed as craftsmen/ craftswomen, it is still included in the vast world of art. Both fine art and decorative art are spectacular in their own way, narrating stories that are beautiful. All art enthusiasts in the art galleries in Delhi understand and appreciate the difference, welcoming both forms with open arms, carving a road to the future.