It is no surprise that there is still high regard for the Warli community as their culture and traditions date back to almost 25000 BC and it is expressed through the artworks they created as murals on the walls.
As a homage to the community, an exhibition was organised at the Ojas Art gallery titled, Satrangi. The exhibition which is unique due to the heritage value Warli paintings possess features the works of Rajesh Chaitya Vangad (Master Artist) and Tushar and Mayur Vayeda (Protege Artist) along with Amit Mahadev Dombhare, Kishore Mahase, Sadashiv Mashe and Shantaram Gorkhana.
By Amit Mahadev Dombhare
The exhibition is curated by Anubhav Nath and Devyani Sahai. In a chat with Devyani, she points out that it is the simplicity that the artworks possess and the ethos and ideology that exists behind these paintings, that makes these artworks really special. She explains further, “Monochrome is always very attractive, whether it’s black and white or some other combination. But in these artworks, they have used the brown (made from cow dung) and rice paste used. There is no colour distracting us from the works. Secondly, the whole Warli ideology is of nature and mother earth.” These works are not based on one particular subject. Hence, every work is in fact, a celebration of Warli lifestyle. Devyani points out that every artist has a ‘unique language’ in a way that it seems like a unique handwriting.
The artworks focus on bridging traditional works with contemporary times as it is evident through the paintings that the artists amalgamate traditional painting techniques.
Devyani explains, “I can’t help looking at the artists and their ages because some of the younger artists have travelled the world, studied in modern universities. As they are aware about the world around them, their work is not diluted. It is done with the traditional Warli style and their knowledge of the urbanised world.”
It is refreshing to see the positive side of these artworks as these works depict people and life within the tribe as happy and enjoyable. She agrees on the same further adding, “The depiction of the figures and their simplicity is focusing on what they have made. If you observe their figures, they have a dancing form. The subject is usually in celebration.” She then adds that celebration is the main reason why these works ooze with high happiness quotient.
“It’s very important to see what these figures are doing to get an overview of the whole thing. It comes across as a simple message,” she says. These works are most certainly an inspiration for Devyani. “You’ll never see one Warli figure or anything in isolation. You will see a collection of Warlis and that in itself tells us that we cannot be self-centred,” she concludes.