Saroj Venkat Shyam

Saroj Venkat Shyam belongs to the Pardhan Gond tribal community and was born in village Patangarh, Madhya Pradesh. She has been practising Gond art for the last 20 years and has exhibited internationally and also conducted many gond art workshops.

As the ancient tribal fable unfolds in the 21st century, the gond artist’s vivid paintings narrate tales of their faiths and beliefs, their visual expression and sense of identity. Vibrant colours and animated motifs filled with intricate patterns of dots and dashes bring their mythical jungle to life. Trees, animals, birds, the sky, water, and earth sway and dance to the rhythm of the Pardhan’s tunes and brush strokes. Gond traditions and fables are a reflection of man’s close connection with his natural surroundings.