Following by the Musical Performance by Folk Singer Hari Ram

Gond art is a well-known folk art of the Indian folk and tribal community, as well as one of our cultural heritage’s pearls. We have included eighteen pieces of Rajendra Kumar Shyam’s art in this catalog, whose quiet and modest demeanour is inextricably linked to his bold and almost-well-balanced Gond painting style. Rajendra Kumar’s Gond art represents a tangible vocabulary fueled by an archive impulse, as his canvases are filled with flawlessly symmetric, complex compositions that tell elaborate stories about Gond culture and depict images from rural life. His paintings are painted in earth tones or primary hues like red, green, yellow, and black, which have long been associated with the Gond community and have traditional meanings. These paintings are meant to be used not just for décor, but also for spiritual and religious beliefs.

These paintings are doodled on canvas in order to appease their gods or to stave off evil and disease. To create an astounding appeal, brilliant colours and gorgeous patterns of dots and lines are used in painting. Rajendra’s Gond painting technique is captured in a patchwork of dashes and dots. The collage is made up of vibrant images of animals and plants, articulating folk art in black and white and a distinct colour. Colour, humour, detail, and ambiguity are abundant in this work of art. Rajendra’s paintings and images have undergone theme experimentation and creativity, with combinations of plants, animals, birds, nature, folklore, and filling motifs such as the dash, dots, curves, and so on….

The art begins with the creation of an outline and the filling in of black hues; once the art has dried, patterns are developed. The Tree of Life is a central topic in Gond art. Many themes demonstrate the relationship between the tree of life, animals, and other elements. The fable of the peacock with bad feet, for example, is commonly tied to a theme. The peacock, despite its gorgeous plumage, is only complete with its little, disproportionate feet, according to the story. 

During a conversation with Rajendra, he informed me when Rajendra and his companions used to bring fuelwood to the forests as youngsters, they would gather the elderly folks in front of the fire and listen to stories all night. Rajendra’s vivid and thrilling works of art now bring these experiences and enchanting stories to life. The art is passed down through the generations. Many stories concerning Gond legends and myths are included, including the classic love story of Jhitku Mitki, Gondwani (stories of Gond Kings), Ramyani (Ram Katha), and Pandwani (Pandava Katha), among others.

He began painting full-time in 2007 thanks to artist Shampa Shah, who encouraged him to pursue art as a career. He used to work as a labourer at the Indira Gandhi National Human Museum in Bhopal. He was still passionate about painting, and he used to paint after work in the evenings.

Rajendra Kumar Shyam worked in Bhopal under his uncle, famed Gond artist Jangarh Singh Shyam, where he adopted a contemporary approach by utilising manufactured acrylic colours and canvas/paper as the substrate, changing traditional folk art into contemporary folk art in India. There are several types of traditional art that contribute to the enrichment of our cultural heritage via diverse art forms.

This art is not merely decorative but is an integral component of Gond tribal life. It is a contemplation of their cultural environment, and as such, it is strongly related to its other parts, such as dance, theatre, and music, as well as their daily life. The Gond people have a nearly 1400-year history, and they are one of India’s largest tribes, with strongholds in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.