Artists who blend tradition with contemporary trends

Pradyumna Kumar’s trees have movement, suggesting the sighing breeze passing through the leaves. An important aspect in Jivya Soma Mashe’s artworks is the fluidity with which he invariably paints each and every object/figure. Pranab Narayan Das creates exquisite Pattachitra paintings. Dhavat Singh Uikey looks to translate the fascinating tales about the forest and the animals therein, stretching the set boundaries of Gond art. They all form part of the Folk & Tribal Art Auction courtesy Saffronart.

Jivya Soma Mashe

One of the most widely known and first successful Warli artists, Jivya Soma Mashe, has been greatly inspired by the tribal folklore and stories of celebration. There is a sense of constant movement within the paintings, yet each detail is incorporated with utmost precision. Mashe has been honored with both a National Award and the Padma Shree.

Pranab Narayan Das

The artist from Orissa is known to paint on tussar silk and the wooden containers used as 'dowry boxes' during weddings in his community. Pattachitra painting developed around religious centres of the state like Konark and Puri. It recalls the ancient murals of the region. These finely detailed works created on layers of primed cloth (patta) usually feature religious subjects. Pattachitra paintings are created using extremely fine brushes and colors derived from natural sources like the conch shell and lamp soot.

Pradyumna Kumar

This award-winning tribal artist is the first from India to win the prestigious UNESCO Noma Concours in 2006. He took to art late in his life, creating paintings influenced by Madhubani stylistic traditions albeit with themes drawn from his own imagination. Interestingly, he brings to Madhubani art both his map-making skills as well as a keen observation of plant forms.

Dhavat Singh Uikey

An engineer by education, and a Gond artist by profession, he has grown up listening to folk tales. Open to experiments and newer ideas, Uikey plays with scale, palette and form in his works, trying to put a visual form to the myths and folklore surrounding animals as told by the Baiga tribe. Most of the stories are about their reactions and interactions with animals in their daily lives. Singh sees himself as more of a contemporary artist using traditional skills.