Why is it in the News?

Warli Whisperers, an exhibition by the Inherited Arts Forum, traces the artistic journey of the celebrated Mashe family from Maharashtra.

About the Warli Art:

• Origin: Warli art is a tribal form originating from the North Sahyadri region of Maharashtra, with roots dating back to the 10th century AD.
  • However, it gained recognition for its unique style in the early 1970s.
• Practitioners: Traditionally, Warli art was practiced by Suvasinis, the women of the Warli tribe, who adorned the Lagn Chowk or wedding square with their artistic expressions.
• Characteristics: Warli artists draw inspiration from nature, depicting scenes of farming, food gathering, village life, and elements from the natural world.
  • These paintings are mainly dominated by basic geometric shapes like circles, triangles and squares.
  • These geometric shapes stand as a symbol of natural elements in our environment.
    • For example, the circles represent the sun and moon, the triangles represent the mountains and the squares are considered as the central motifs of the painting.
• Techniques and Materials: The paintings showcase triangles, circles, and lines in stark white against a mud brown background, narrating stories of village life, customs, and traditions.
  • Modified bamboo sticks serve as paintbrushes, and the colours are derived from nature, such as brown and orange from henna, indigo from dye, red from bricks, and white from thick rice paste.
• Warli art serves as a vibrant portrayal of the everyday and social occurrences within the Warli tribe of Maharashtra, serving as a means to adorn the walls of village houses.
• Concerns: It was not recognised as an art form even though it was in practice for centuries.

Warli Tribe

• The Warli tribe, categorized as indigenous Adivasis, inhabit both the mountainous and coastal regions near the Maharashtra-Gujarat border.
• Their communication is conducted through an unwritten Varli language, classified within the southern zone of Indo-Aryan languages.