Conscious efforts to bring Indian tribal art to the mainstream

A new two parts show at Devi Art Foundation (DAF) features over 60 artists, all practising traditional forms of painting and sculpture. For this ambitious project, curated by Bangalore based Jackfruit Research & Design, more than 300 artists were contacted. About 90 of them selected and finally 30 were commissioned to make a series of paintings and sculptures.

These are the artists typically categorized as makers of folk and tribal art. The fieldwork and documentation to locate them will serve as an art historical archive since all of them were interviewed and photographed in their rusty workspaces and studios. In the process, Jackfruit and DAF have created a curatorial agenda on the issue of work and process that provides them space and resources for developing new projects and broaden their horizon.

On the eve of this unusual exhibition of works, Anindita Ghose of The Mint publication notes in an essay (‘The vernacular advantage’) how tribal art is now the youngest star of India’s contemporary art scene. Quoting curator Yashodhara Dalmia, the article underlines the fact that folk & tribal artists aren’t the ones perhaps slow in catching us, but it’s other way round, as we’ve been a tad slow in recognizing them. Striking a positive noted, the writer elaborates:

“A seminar conducted by Art Alive Gallery in Delhi, panelists discussed factors making this market switch problematic. However, a number of interventions are now helping turn this around. Mumbai based Pundole and Chemould held tribal art shows last year. Delhi’s W+K Exp, hosted a show of Gond sculpture. This was the first year that auction house Sotheby’s included tribal art from India in its sales."

In another conscious effort to bring tribal art from India to the mainstream, the upcoming India Art Summit (January 2011) will host its closing party at DAF, with a live performance to highlight the show there.