A Message from the Trees

A MESSAGE FROM THE

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Trees, trees, trees – too much is too less

All artists in this exhibition belong to Gond community, barring Abhishek Singh with an exceptional talent of relating stories from Mythology. The artists are all strongly connected to nature, making them messengers for the trees — sensitizing all of us to the environment around us an to respect the importance of trees. This is evident from their elaborate, detailed depiction of trees that are symbolic of the messages or stories that their works unfold.

In July 2018, Abhishek Singh did a live drawing in Delhi titled Vrikshadootam: A Message from the Trees.

In continuation, this year, we thought of taking this idea ahead and inviting Gond artists to also showcase their stories around trees and nature.

Anubhav Nath

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ABHISHEK SINGH Abhishek Singh has been working on imagery of gods and goddesses for nearly two decades. His graphic novel, Krishna –A Journey Within, Deepak Chopra and Shekhar Kapur’s Ramayana 3392 A.D, Kali and Shiva, have sold over half a million copies and have been translated in four languages. In 2014, Ojas Art’s Shiva in Varanasi curated

by Anubhav Nath showcased his artworks in a public setting, on the Ghats of the Ganges in Varanasi.

Singh’s artworks have been exhibited at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA); and Asia Society Texas Center, Houston and Middlebury College Museum of Art, Vermont. His most recent live drawing was for the Frenec Abhishek Singh Mara’s Reverie, 2017 Ink on archival paper, 18 x 24 inch

Hopp Museum of Asian Arts, Budapest, Hungary in May 2018.

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Abhishek Singh Vrikshadootam, 2018 Acrylic and ink on canvas, 144 x 72 inch

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Abhishek Singh The Song of the Swans, 2017, Ink on archival paper, 18 x 24 inch

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Abhishek Singh The Envoy, 2017, Ink on archival paper, 18 x 24 inch

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BHAJJU SHYAM Bhajju is a well known Gond artist, having exhibited his work at the Museum of London and on tour in the UK, Germany, Holland, Italy and Russia. Born in 1971 in the Gond tribal village of Patangarh, sixteen yearold Bhajju travelled to Bhopal where he became apprentice to Jangarh Singh Shyam.

His best-known work, The London Jungle Book, is a visual travelogue of his 2002 visit to London, where he went to paint the interior of an up-market Indian restaurant. The book, published by Tara Books and the Museum of London, was released in November 2004, along with a three-month exhibition at the Museum. In 2001, he received a state award for Best Indigenous Artist.

Bhajju had his first solo show 2016 at Ojas Art, Dellhi, followed by another solo show in Canada in 2017 and in 2018, he also showed his artworks at Bonham’s, Hong Kong in the same year, and again in 2018 itself, he was conferred with the Padma Shri, one of the highest Indian civilian orders, making him the first Gond Artist to receive this honour.

Bhajju Shyam Mahua Ped (Mahua Tree), 2014, Acrylic and ink on canvas, 48 x 72 inch

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Bhajju Shyam Aashirvad (Blessings), 2014, Acrylic and ink on canvas, 48 x 72 inch

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Bhajju Shyam Untitled, 2014, Ink and acrylic on paper, 30 x 22 inch

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Bhajju Shyam Hiran (Deer), 2014, Acrylic and ink on paper, 36 x 48 inch

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Bhajju Shyam Untitled, 2014, Ink and acrylic on paper, 30 x 22 inch

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Bhajju Shyam Untitled, 2016, Ink on paper, 30 x 22 inch

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Bhajju Shyam Tendu Ped aur Chamkadar (Tendu Tree and Bat), 2017, Acrylic and ink on paper, 30 x 60 inch

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Bhajju Shyam Bhanvar Macchi (Cyclone of Bees), 2017, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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DURGA BAI VYAM Durga Bai Vyam (Dindori-M.P.) is a Pardhan Gond artist from Bhopal. She started her journey, by making Dignas, colourful clay patterns drawn on walls, at the age of six, as early as in 1996 at an artist’s camp organized by Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal. At the age of 15, Durgabai married Subhash Vyam, a clay and wood sculptor. Durgabai’s artistic career has flourished even further not only by her marriage to Subhash Vyam but also by the veteran Gond Artist, Jangarh Singh Shyam.

For the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2018, this artist couple had created an experimental graphic narrative on marine plywood, giving the traditional Gond wall art another dimension.

Durga Bai Vyam Pigs and Tigers, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 25 x 35 inch

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Durga Bai Vyam Fireflies and Cow, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 52 x 70 inch

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Durga Bai Vyam Collecting Mahua in Jungle, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 25 x 35 inch

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Durga Bai Vyam Cow under the tree, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 18 x 18 inch

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Durga Bai Vyam Tiger, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 18 x 18 inch

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Durga Bai Vyam Elephant family, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 18 x 18 inch

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Durga Bai Vyam Pigs and Tree story, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 18 x 18 inch

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Durga Bai Vyam Forest seen as an Animal, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 25 x 35 inch

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Durga Bai Vyam Elephant Family II, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 25 x 35 inch

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MAYANK SHYAM Mayank Shyam (b.1987), the son of legend Gond artist Jangarh Singh Shyam, staying away from the rat race, has already created a space for himself in the world of art with his signature style of artworks.

At the age of 21 he was featured in the book ‘Freedom: Sixty Years after Indian Independence’ (published by Art and Heritage Foundation. 2007), along with Rabindranath Tagore, Paramjit and Arpita Singh, Jamini Roy and other contemporary artists.

In 2018, he participated in Ascending Roots exhibition at Ojas Art.

Mayank Shyam Kakai Kata (Cactus), 2018 Acrylic on canvas, 68 x 44 inch

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Mayank Shyam Milan, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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Mayank Shyam Jeevan ki Aas, 2019, Acrylic on paper, 30 x 22 inch

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Mayank Shyam Devroopi Vriksha I, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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Mayank Devroopi Vriksha I, 2019, Acrylic

k Shyam c and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

Mayank Shyam Devroopi Vriksha III, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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Mayank Shyam Air 1, Air 2, Air 4, Air 5 (clockwise from top left) 2018 Acrylic and ink on canvas. All 15 x 15 inch each

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Mayank Shyam Road 1, Road 2, Road 3, Road 4, Road 5, (clockwise from top left) 2018 Acrylic and ink on canvas. All 15 x 15 inch each

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Mayank Shyam Train 1, Train 2, Train 3, Train 4, Train 5, (left to right) 2018 Acrylic and ink on canvas. All 15 x 15 inch each

(Facing page right) Detail

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RAM SINGH URVETI Ram Singh Urveti, is from Madhya Pradesh and along with Jangarh Singh Shyam, is known to be one of the eminent historical figures in contemporary Indian tribal art. Ram Singh Urveti has taken part in many exhibitions in India and overseas: The exhibition Freedom, for the sixtieth anniversary of the Independence of India, alongside the greatest names in modern and contemporary Indian art (CIMA, Centre of International Modern Art, Calcutta, 2008). In August 2009, in the exhibition, Now that the trees have spoken organized by the contemporary art critic Ranjit Hoskote, where he was invited by the famous Pundole Art Gallery of Mumbai.

In 2010, in the exhibition Non metropolitan, Five Contemporary Artists from India held in the Rob Dean Art Gallery in Pasadena, California. On that occasion, the New York Times saluted the return of the great names in tribal art.

In “Art Contemporain Indien” par Hervé Perdriolle, 5 Continents Edition Milan 2012.

Ram Singh Urveti Bada Dev, 2019 Acrylic on canvas, 77 x 54 inch

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Ram Singh Urveti Dudh, Dahi aur Mahi ka Ped, 2019 Acrylic on canvas, 77 x 54 inch

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Ram Singh Urveti Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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Ram Sing Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and

gh Urveti ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

Ram Singh Urveti Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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Ram Singh Urveti Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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Ram Sing Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and i

gh Urveti ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

Ram Singh Urveti Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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Ram Singh Urveti Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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Ram Sing Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and i

gh Urveti ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

Ram Singh Urveti Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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Ram Singh Urveti Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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Ram Sing Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and

gh Urveti ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

Ram Singh Urveti Vanaspati II, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 22 x 30 inch

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Ram Singh Urveti Prakratik Chitra II, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 77 x 54 inch

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Ram Singh Urveti Gaanja Mahaua ka Ped, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 54 x 77 inch

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Ram Singh Urveti Jad Chetan, 2018, Acrylic and ink on canvas, 77 x 54 inch

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Ram Singh U Vanaspati I, 2019, Acrylic and ink

Urveti k on canvas, 56 x 43 inch

Ram Singh Urveti Prakratik Chitra I, 2014, Acrylic and ink on canvas, 56 x 43 inch

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Ram Singh Urveti Bharahi Pakshi, 2010, Acrylic on canvas, 68 x 41 inch

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SUBHASH VYAM Subhash Vyam (Dindori-M.P.) is a Gond artist from Madhya Pradesh, who was awarded the ‘Rajya Hastha Shilpa Puraskar’ by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 2002. He likes using the colour black and often uses ink on paper as his medium. His favourite themes are of aquatic life, which he saw while growing up in the village of Sonpuri, near Patangarh.

Inspired by his wife Durga Bai, who has a vast reservoir of folk tales, Subhash has also started painting characters and scenes from these stories. He works extensively with clay and wood too.

For the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2018, this artist couple had created an experimental graphic narrative on marine plywood, giving the traditional Gond wall art another dimension.

Subhash Vyam Frogs offering water to Deer, 2019 Acrylic on canvas, 70 x 52 inch

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Subhash Vyam Ramheli Birds under the Banyan Tree, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 52 x 70 inch

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Subhash Vyam Owl and Peacock Story, 2019, Acrylic on canvas, 52 x 70 inch

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Subhash Vyam Elephant Family I, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 15 x 11 inch

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Subhash Vyam Elephant Family II, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 15 x 11 inch

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Subhash Vyam Bird, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 14 x 10 inch

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Subhash Vyam Birds on Stone, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 14 x 10 inch

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Subhash Vyam Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 14 x 10 inch

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Subhash Vyam Untitled, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 14 x 10 inch

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Subhash Vyam Kids watching Aeroplane, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 14 x 10 inch

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Subhash Vyam Giant Elephant Aeroplane, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 14 x 10 inch

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Subhash Vyam Helicopter, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 10 x 14 inch

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Subhash Vyam Bird like Aeroplane, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 14 x 10 inch

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Subhash Vyam Deer under the Tree, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 14 x 10 inch

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Subhash Vyam Camel Ride, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 14 x 10 inch

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Subhash Vyam Kajal Machli – Gond Story, 2019, Acrylic and ink on paper, 32 x 45 inch

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A MESSAGE FROM THE TREES Delhi, August 2019 Ojas Art, New Delhi

This E-catalogue Published in India in 2019

For OJAS ART 1AQ, Near Qutab Minar Mehrauli, New Delhi 110 030 art@ojasart.com | +91-11-2664 4145

Copyright © Ojas Art 2019 Artworks © Respective Artists

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any mean, without prior written permission.

Designed by: Rajinder Arora, Ishtihaar, New Delhi

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