This book was made possible by the generous support of Inherited Arts Forum.  

About Inherited Arts Forum 

Inherited Arts Forum is a collaboration between two contemporary galleries, Exhibit 320 & Blueprint12.  Under this banner, the mission of the gallery is to create a platform for folk and traditional artists to present their work and perspectives. The vision of the gallery is to enable folk and indigenous art forms to travel from its origins in traditional spiritual and religious expressions into the mainstream art world. 

Read about the different styles and traditions of art in the book! 

WARLI  

Maharashtra, India

The Warli tradition comes from a tribal community along the foothills of Sahyadhri mountains in the Thane district of Maharashtra, India. Primarily practised by the women of the community, the Warli style has existed for centuries and is used to record important events and tell local stories, usually on the mud walls of dwellings but now on paper and canvas. 

PHULKARI

Punjab, India

Phulkari embroidery was originally made with real flowers on silk and mulmul by the women of the house, often upon the birth of a female child. Phulkari as we know it today is usually silk embroidery on hand-spun cloth. 

BHIL ART

Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra

The Bhils are the second largest tribal community of India. Bhil folk traditionally paint their clay walls with sticks, twigs and natural dyes to create frescoes to convey moods and experiences. Large, lifelike figures of people and animals are filled with even-sized dots, a lot like the pointillism technique used in Europe. 

GOND ART

Madhya Pradesh

The Gond community is among the largest tribes in the country and is known to date back almost 1400 years. The figures in these paintings have soft edges and are famous for its dots and lines that instill a sense of movement in the images. The use of vibrant colours breathes life into the figures, which represent local legends and everyday practices. 

HAZARIBAGH

Jharkhand

In this mural painting tradition that is carried forward exclusively by women, artists use a reverse pottery technique where a base of manganese black earth coat is covered with a layer of white earth once the former dries. The white layer is then cut or scraped off in various shapes to create motifs. The community comes together for a marriage or harvest to paint the walls with birds, aquatic life and other animals to symbolize fertility.

KALIGHAT

Kolkata, West Bengal

Like most indigenous art forms, these paintings depict scenes from mythology and  legends as well as everyday life. Kalighat 'patuas' or painters created scrolls up to 20 feet in length, favoured singular pictures with minimum figures and a plain background, painting with basic colour combinations. 

BIKANER MINIATURE PAINTING

Rajasthan 

This is a distinctive style of Rajasthani miniature art known for its fine lines, reserved color palette, and intricate details, which often require a magnifying glass to appreciate. This art form flourished under royal patronage and is characterized by its detailed strokes, fine expressions, and the use of natural pigments derived from stones. 

AJRAKH

Kutch, Gujarat 

Ajrakh is a traditional block-printing technique known for its intricate geometric patterns and natural dyes, particularly indigo and madder. This ancient craft is still used to make textiles like shawls, dresses, and sarees that feature symmetrical designs. 

LEATHER PUPPET

Andhra Pradesh

This type of shadow puppet is used in a traditional Indian art form called Tholu Bommalata, which means "the dance of leather puppets". These large puppets are made from processed goat or deer skin and are painted with vibrant, natural colours. They are illuminated from behind, casting colored shadows on a screen to perform stories from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. 

DHOKRA

West Bengal and Odisha 

Dhokra is an ancient Indian metal casting craft that uses a lost-wax technique to create jewelry, sculptures, and decorative items. The technique, named after the Dhokra Damar tribal blacksmiths of West Bengal and Odisha who practice it, is known for its use of folk motifs, and intricate, jointless designs.

PICHWAI

Rajasthan 

Originating from Nathdwara, Rajasthan, this art form involves painting on cloth and primarily depicts scenes from the life of Lord Krishna. The term "Pichwai" is derived from Sanskrit, meaning "hanging at the back," as these paintings traditionally hung behind the idol of Shrinathji (a form of Krishna) in temples. These vibrant and intricate artworks are characterized by detailed designs, vibrant colors, and often feature motifs like lotus flowers, gopis, and cows.