About the Exhibition
Artisera
"Forests Within" reflects the idea of the forest as a world within itself — an interconnected ecosystem made up of animals, birds, trees, rivers, insects, and the people who inhabit it. In Jangarh Kalam, or Gond art, these elements do not exist separately, but as part of a symbiotic and interdependent living environment. Through layered narratives, this exhibition of Gond paintings by nine artists — Ram Singh Urveti, Raju Maravi, Manoj Tekam, Sukhnandi Vyam, Sandeep Dhurve, Kishan Uikey, Mansingh Vyam, Santosh Maravi and Dwarka Paraste — celebrates the harmony and coexistence that sustain forest life. The title evokes the many worlds that exist within the forest, where every creature and natural element plays a vital role in maintaining balance and continuity.
"Jangarh Kalam" is named after the internationally renowned Indian artist Jangarh Singh Shyam (1962 – 2001), who was among the first Gond artists to use paper and canvas for his paintings. He is credited for being the creator of a new school of Indian art called Jangarh Kalam. Among the largest tribes in India, the Gonds have a recorded history that goes back 1400 years. The Gonds are present in significant numbers in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, and their art is loved by connoisseurs of culture.