
The Craft
Warli Painting
Maharashtra
Homage to Nature with Indigenous Art
The Warli tribe from Maharashtra has become well known for its mural art. The art form has been in existence since the 10th century and continues to be practised. One of the largest tribes in India, the Warli tribespeople document their history, tradition and culture through their art.
The Making
Warli art is special because it's all about nature. The Warli artists paint stories on the walls of their mud huts. The paint is made from a mixture of rice flour, water, and gum. They paint only during special occasions, like weddings, harvests, and festivals. The paintings use simple shapes like circles, triangles, and squares to depict natural elements. The circle represents the sun and the moon, the triangle is for mountains and trees, and the square shows a sacred area or a piece of land. The square is the central of the painting and is also called chauk or chaukat.
The Legacy
Mother Nature is a focal point of the Warli painting, depicting how she is the life force that helps humans survive. Scenes depict hunting, fishing and farming. Fertility is also a recurring theme. In Warli paintings, people and animals are drawn using two triangles meeting at the tip, which shows balance in the universe.
Memory Vault
Warli painting has caught the imagination of people and it has been adapted to feature on clothes, bags and an array of other products. Its minimalistic style, and essential design elements without too many colours, has found a place in the world of fashion.
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