Untitled

Bhil painting, traditionally made on walls, is practised  today on canvas by one of the oldest tribal communities of India – the Bhils. Residing in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, etc, they live lives that are intricately connected with nature. This aspect is clearly evident in their art. The Bhils use dashes and dots to create forms on canvas, much like the artistic practice of the neighbouring Gond- Pardhan community.

This painting by Bhuri Bai shows various human and animal figures together. Even though the thematic focus here is on the natural world.Bhuri Bai is a Bhil painter, born in Pitol village, Madhya Pradesh. She was the first artist of her community to start painting on paper. Her typically colourful canvases usually depict mythological themes and man-animal interactions. Like her contemporary Jangarh Singh Shyam, Bhuri Bai was encouraged by J Swaminathan of Bhopal’s Bharat Bhavan to start using acrylic colours and paper to make paintings. She was awarded India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2021.

To read more, click here.