Prakritik Jeevan (Life in Nature)

Growing up in the city of Bhopal, Japani Shyam’s first brush with nature came through the vibrant forest scenes painted by her parents, Nankusiya and Jangarh Singh Shyam, a pioneer of Gond art. Japani’s style is characterised by her fascination with pigments; she is on a quest to rediscover the lost natural colours once derived from the soil of her village in Patangarh. Her art offers an intricate and imaginative detailing of wildlife, indigenous trees and the customs specific to her community of Gond-Pardhans.

This work was displayed as part of Sarmaya’s exhibition – ‘In the Dappled Light’ (29th March – 4th May 2025)