This Gond artist’s first Hyderabad exhibition explores Nature and identity

Gond art takes on a contemporary touch in the works of artist Japani Shyam. The daughter of Gond artist, the late Jangarh Singh Shyam, Japani is showcasing her works for the first time in Hyderabad.

The show The Living Bond at Alliance Française Hyderabad (AFH) presents 14 works. Rooted in nature, the imagery draws on many inspirations — watching her father draw and listening to his stories in childhood, cultural narratives, and frequent trips to the forests near her village, Patangarh in Madhya Pradesh. Some themes are drawn from her imagination and surroundings, particularly those that resonate with women in society.

On interspersing contemporary messages with a traditional art form, she says: “Being a woman, I understand the challenges that women face every day. They have many dreams, but bound by societal norms and constraints, they are unable to move ahead in life.”

Of folktales and myths

Her canvases reflect her love for Nature
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

Born and raised in Bhopal, Japani grew up watching her father draw pictures of gods and goddesses, forests, and trees filled with birds and animals. “He would narrate these folktales and myths to us as he painted them,” she recollects.

From observing him deeply immersed in his art to eventually working alongside him, Japani’s tryst with Gond art was organic. At 11, one of her submitted works won the Kamaladevi Award (The Kamala awards also known as Kamala Devi Puraskar honours the legacy of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, a prominent figure in India’s craft revival movement. The awards are presented by the Crafts Council of India (CCI) award to honour outstanding contributions by artisans and activists to preserve and develop Indian crafts.) , which helped her develop her own visual style. “When we returned home after school, he would ask us to draw on white paper. He knew what our strengths were and how much we enjoyed the activity.”

Inspired by her father’s advice — “I am your art teacher, but do something on your own to stand out” — Japani, who was named after Japan where her father happened to be at the time of her birth, now uses only two colours in her works. This dual palette — either black and white, or a combination of dark and light tones — has become a distinctive aspect of her work. “I did not find working with many colours appealing. In fact, I would get confused by them, not knowing which colour to use with which design.”

Rooted in Nature

The artist uses only two colours in her works
| Photo Credit:
Special arrangement

In canvases filled with intricate patterns, a love for nature takes centre stage. Japani travels to her village Patangarh twice a year to experience forest life. “Jungle mein chalna bahut accha lagta hai (I love walking in the forest). I feel calm and inspired when I am in the wild, surrounded by trees. I see the animals, listen to birds chirping, and soak in the tranquillity of the forest — all of which reflects in my works,” she says.

She reflects on the community’s close connection with nature: “Gond artists have a profound connection to the natural world. Tribal communities have a deep respect for the environment, and this closeness is experienced from the time a child is born. Many tribal customs — like making the newborn sleep in a leaf cradle, feeding with a leaf, or using leaves for worship — strengthen this bond. Nature se saari cheezein uske liye kaam mein aati hai. Aur jab marta bhi hai toh usi nature se use hoti hai. (Everything in life comes from Nature, and when a person dies, he too returns to nature.) Every story, every religion, has its origins in nature.”

Does she feel pressured by comparisons with her celebrated artist-father? “There is no pressure, because I am still a student and have a long way to go.”

Japani Shyam showcases her works at a show The Living Bond at Alliance Francaise -Hyderabad (AFH). The exhibition is on till September 27