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Artist: Kishan Uikey
Material: Handmade Paper
Size: A4

A villager is fishing at the river-bank. The fish are  attracted to the fisherman’s bait. A crab takes advantage of this to capture a fish for his meal.

Symbiosis 3

Artist: Rahul Shyam
Material: Handmade Paper
Size: 15" x 11.5"

It is very difficult to locate where the fish live in the river, and to catch them. The fisherman follows the birds who prey upon the fish. He casts his net out in the spots in the river where the birds dive in to catch the fish.

Symbiosis 2

Artist: Kishan Uikey
Material: Handmade Paper
Size: A4

Two cocks are engaged in battle with each other. The eagle watches them and waits for the opportunity when they tire each other out. Then, the eagle will swoop in for the kill.

Wait and Watch

Artist: Rahul Shyam
Material: Canvas
Size: 30" x 36"


Once, there lived an arrogant Owl together with his companions in a dark and dismal home in the mountains. The Owl would look with deep envy upon the Birds who were living in wonderful nests they had built in a beautiful tree below.

One night, when the birds were asleep, the Owl and his companions attacked the Birds and wounded them grievously. They drove the Birds away and took possession of the Birds’ nests in the beautiful tree.

The distraught Birds called a conclave in which they debated how they should retaliate. The Owl sent one of his companions to the conclave in disguise, to spy upon the Birds. The Crow, who had also been evicted from the tree, recognised the spy.

The Crow had a secret discussion with the leader of the Birds and hatched a plan. The Crow spoke in praise of the Owl in the conclave. The other Birds turned against the Crow for doing so. They beat up the Crow and drove him away.

When the Owl learnt of this, he took the injured Crow into his home and tended to him. The Owl took care of the Crow and nursed him back to health. The Owl’s motive in doing so was to extract the secrets and the plots of the Birds from the Crow. The Owl’s companions warned him against his actions and advised him to kill the Crow who was their enemy, but the arrogant Owl refused.

After the Crow had recovered, he pledged his undying loyalty to the Owl and said he would do anything for his new master. The Crow said he was a lowly creature, of a stature beneath the Owl and his companions. Hence, he would live outside the gate of his master’s residence and stay guard over his master’s abode. The Owl grew even more puffed up and agreed.

The Crow gather a pile of dry wood outside the Owl’s home, pretending to build his humble dwelling with them. In the day-time, when the Owl and his companions were asleep, the leader of Birds picked up a flaming stick from a fire in the village and flew with it to the tree. He dropped it on the dry wood piled up by the Crow outside the Owl’s home and set fire to it. The Owl and his companions perished in the blaze.

Thus, the Birds regained their beloved homes in the beautiful tree.

The Trojan Crow

Artist: Ram Kumar Shyam
Material: Canvas
Size: 24" x 36"

The tiger cub is born with aggression coursing through its veins. Its first instinct is to attack, notwithstanding the size of the opponent. Here, a tiger cub is lunging towards a goat which is substantially larger than it, and attempting to make a meal of it.

Pugnacity!

Artist: Rahul Shyam
Material: Canvas
Size: 24" x 30"

The Gond tribal community has preserved its ancient and unique cultural identity over the ages. To this day, they practise the customs and traditions that were practiced centuries ago.
 
At the start of a new venture or an important task like a marriage or building a new house, or every few years, the Gonds offer prayers to the presiding deities of their clan. They express their gratitude towards the Gods and invoke the Gods’ blessings such that they may achieve success. An integral part of these prayer ceremonies is the sacrifice of a domestic animal to the Gods.
 
Each animal occupies a place of significance in these ceremonies. Chickens and goats are offered as sacrifice to Bada Dev (Lord Shiva) while wild boars are meant to be offered to Mara Dev (the Tree God).
 
The meat of the animal is offered to the God in special plates woven from leaves of the Sarai tree. The Sarai tree holds an important place in these rituals. The Sarai trees are guarded by armies of ants in the forest. The Gonds exercise great care not to disturb the ants while breaking off leaves from the Sarai tree.
 
It is also believed that the Goddess Lakshmi resides in the Sarai tree. That is another reason the Sarai tree is held in high regard and the leaves of the Sarai tree are used in the prayer ceremonies, so that the person making the offering may flourish.

The Sarai Tree

Artist: Rahul Shyam
Material: Canvas
Size: 24" x 30"

After Bada Dev (the most senior of all Gods, Lord Shiva) created the world, he sat back to admire his creation. The thought occurred to him that though the world was so beautiful, but would the exquisiteness last and abide? He contemplated this for many days, and concluded that for each realm in the world, there should be a special being who would be entrusted with the tasks of preservation and amelioration of the realm.
 
Thus, He created the birds who soar in the skies, singing songs in praise of the Gods, and safeguard our firmament.
 
Then, He created the fish to tend to the seas. The fish dance in the waters, and express their devotion to the Gods while doing so.
 
Then, Bada Dev decided to appoint someone who would execute His vision of the world successfully, and would exercise control of all realms. He appointed the Lion as the King of all animals. Even while residing on the land, the lion keeps an eye on all animals and spreads the glory of the Lord.

The Lords of the Realms

Artist: Rahul Shyam
Material: Canvas
Size: 30" x 36"

In addition to the various products that the forest gives us, many times the forest also teaches us valuable life-lessons.
 
When rain falls in a torrent, everything in the forest quickly disengages from the tasks they were engrossed in and concentrates on surviving the downpour. The leaves of the trees give up their original position, in which they are turned upwards to seek sunlight, and turn down. Birds stop foraging for food and hide in the trees.
 
The falcon is the only creature who stays true to his task. If he was circling in search of prey, he does not get deterred by the rain. He confronts the danger of the deluge of rain, and remains focussed on searching out his prey.

The Falcon's Focus

Artist: Vijay Uikey
Material: Canvas
Size: 24" x 36"

In the cities, everyone uses a watch to keep track of the time and of their schedules. In the villages, people look up at the Sun to gauge the time of the day and to guide them in their tasks.

The Sun Chronograph

Artist: Prabhakar Tekam
Material: Canvas
Size: 23" x 36"

When the clouds break, a muster of peacocks in the forest begin to dance in joy.

Rainy Day Peacocks

Artist: Phoolchad Dhurve
Material: Canvas
Size: 24" x 36"

“Raksha Bandhan”, or simply “Rakhi”, is an annual rite performed in India on the last day of the Hindu lunar calendar month of Shraavana, which typically falls in August. On this day, sisters of all ages tie a talisman or amulet called the “rakhi” around the wrists of their brothers, ritually protecting their brothers. They also perform “Aarti”  for their brothers, praying for their good health and long life. The sisters receive a gift from their brothers in return, who also take responsibility of caring for their sisters.

On this day, the ladies in the Gond tribe also plant a plant named “kajraliya”, praying for the goodwill of their brothers.  After tending to the kajraliya plant for 8 days, they take it, accompanied by much music and singing, to the bank of the River Narmada, and immerse it in the flowing waters. This ritual, they believe, keeps their brothers prosperous and safeguards them from evil.

Raksha Bandhan

Artist: Jyoti Shyam
Material: Canvas
Size: 27" x 26"