Pahuna (Esteemed Guest)

Gond is a celebrated, shared art tradition practised by the Gond-Pradhan community in India. The themes revolve around ritualistic idols and motifs and depictions of the natural world and its harmony and are painted in an elaborate pattern of lines and dots.

In this painting titled ‘Pahuna’ (meaning an esteemed guest), artist Japani Shyam has captured the valued practice of gifting. “In Pahuna, I have drawn a married woman and her daughter who are visiting her brother’s home. Amongst us Adivasis, it is considered most auspicious to bring traditionally brewed mahua liquor and a chicken for our close relatives, as a gift and offering.” In her classic red shades, she captures a woman and her young daughter aboard a bullock cart with a live chicken in a basket and a trunk of possessions, seemingly with Japani’s signature red birds guiding their way.

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