The first Hyderabad exhibition of this Gond artist discovers nature and identity

Gond Art artist takes on a contemporary touch in the works of Japni Shyam. The daughter of Gond artist, late Jungad Singh Shyam, Japni is performing her work in Hyderabad for the first time.

The show The Living Bond in Alliance Franceis Hyderabad (AFH) presents 14 works. Inherent in nature, imagination is attracted to many inspirations – his father in childhood, listening to his stories, cultural narratives, and constant journeys in the forests near his village, looking at the Patangarh of Madhya Pradesh. Some topics are attracted to his imagination and environment, especially those who resonate women in society.

When connecting contemporary messages with a traditional art form, she says: “As a woman, I understand the challenges that women encounter every day. They have many dreams, but are bound by social norms and obstacles, they are unable to move forward in life.”

Of folklore and myths

His canvas reflect his love for nature. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Born in Bhopal and raised, Japani sees her father taking pictures of goddesses, forests and birds and trees filled with animals. “He will tell us these folklore and myths because he portrays them,” she remembers.

She was organic with the gond art of Japani, from deep immersing in her art to eventually working with her. At the age of 11, one of his submitted works won the Kamaladevi Award (Kamala Awards is also known as Kamala Devi Puruskar, who respects the heritage of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, which is a prominent person in India’s craft revival movement. Enjoyed how much activity was enjoyed. “

Inspired by his father’s advice – “I am your art teacher, but do something on my own to stand out” – Japan was named after Japan where his father was at the time of his birth, now uses only two colors in his works. This dual palette – either black and white, or combination of dark and light tone – has become a specific aspect of its work. “I didn’t find attractive to work with many colors. In fact, I will be confused by them, not knowing which color to use.”

Inherent in nature

The artist uses only two colors in his works. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In canvas filled with complex patterns, a love center for nature takes the stage. Japani travels to her village Patangad twice a year to experience forest life. “Forest In (I love walking in the forest). I feel calm and inspired when I am in the forest, surrounded by trees. I look at animals, listen to birds chirping, and absorb in the peace of the forest – all those who are reflected in my works, ”she says.

She reflects a close relationship with the community with nature: “Gond artists have a deep connection with the natural world. Tribal communities have a deep respect for the environment, and this proximity is experienced from the time when a child is born. The whole thing is that it is a lot of work. And Jab Marta Bhi Hai Tohe USI Nature Si is hot. (Everything in life comes from nature, and when a person dies, he also returns to nature.) It originates in every story, every religion, nature. ,

Does she feel pressure by comparing her famous artist-father? “There is no pressure, because I am still a student and have a long way to go.”

Japni Shyam showed his works at the show The Living Bond in Alliance Frankeis -Hyderrabad (AFH). The exhibition is till 27 September