Bhil Artist Lado Bhai at work | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Ozas Art Gallery in Mehrali anchors around a banyan tree associated with many famous folk songs and mounts the artifacts of contemporary indigenous artists to a large extent.
Currently, the 61 -year -old Lado Bai, a painted artist, is a member of the Bhil tribe, whose exhibition ‘Paper Vispers’ gives the urban population an opportunity to re -connect with the fine social life of nature and tribal communities.
Lado Bai’s work is not only a window for tribal life, folklore and festivals, but also reminds how important natural resources are for these artists.
The exhibition focuses on Lado Bai’s work using coal. She explains how the dye is made – by grinding charcoal, or burning wood, and mixing it with dhawada resin.
Charcoal Painting of Lado Bai at Ozas Art Gallery in Delhi. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
His art catchs birds, animals, tribal festivals and the changes around him. With age, his art has also developed. The paintings consist of animal motifs and trees mainly, they now also include tractor and school buses.
She paints on paper, clothes and walls. One of the paintings in the gallery is on Khadi how the tradition converts with modernity.
Anubhav Nath, director of Art Gallery and director of the Creative Curator of the exhibition, says, “During a conversation with Lado Bai, she mentioned that as a child, she often worked with charcoal; but she stopped for years because she had no one to pick up.”
Charcoal Painting of Lado Bai at Ozas Art Gallery in Delhi. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Anubhav says, the exhibition has accepted Lado Bai’s struggles and fights and how he adapted and maintained his curiosity about the cultural beliefs and practices of his community.
In one of the paintings, she reflects the Bhagoria festival, which celebrates the love of young couples, who run away from homes and expects to legalize their union on the festival. This is a glimpse in the social structures of tribal communities.
Another painting is the artwork depicting Gonda tattoos; Gonda painting is part of Bhil heritage and is a testimony to pass time.
She also talks about Pithora, is a form of celebration for the community, who sings devotional songs, pray through the night and paint the paint motifs such as the peepal tree, horses, snakes, suns, moon and lizards on their walls. This is the way of the Bhil community to thank his deity.
Gallery has cured some of Lado Bai’s best works. Appreciating his artistic heritage, a message from Shalene Wadwana, Independent Art Researcher and Friendship Project Curator, a message from Indian Ocean Craft Trianell, Australia, is displayed at the site. This message highlights how Lado Bai’s journey shows the urban people how the tribal communities live.
In Ojas Art Gallery, 1Aq, Qutub Minar, near Mehrali; By 1 August; 11 am to 7 pm (Monday closed)
Published – July 15, 2025 11:24 AM IST