Warli Paintings and Art Collection

Warli art is a traditional Indian art form reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Warli tribe in Maharashtra. This ancient tribal art is known for its simple and narrative style executed through geometrical and monochromatic designs. The culture is centered on the elements of nature including wildlife and farming which are often the focal points in Warli paintings.

Tradition and Legend

Warli art, like many other traditional art forms, is deeply rooted in the traditions and cultural practices of the Warli tribe. This art, conventionally was a communal activity, where women, adults alongside children would participate to draw on the walls and floors of their huts during special occasions like harvests, weddings, and funerals. Mostly, it is a significant means of storytelling, capturing scenes from daily life, rituals, and nature. However, the underlying theme in most Warli paintings is the tribe’s relationship with the land and nature.

Warli art is not only an artistic expression but also a repository of tribal beliefs and myths. The Warli tribe worships several deities, specifically a mother goddess, Hirwe, who represents fertility and the earth's abundance. Various symbols in Warli art represent different aspects of their belief system: the spiral shape symbolizes life cycles, while the circle represents the sun and moon, and stands as a symbol of the eternal cycle of life and nature. 

Technique 

Warli art is characterized by its simple, monochromatic style. Traditionally, artists create paintings on mud or brick walls, using a base of cow dung and mud as a canvas. The images are drawn using twigs or bamboo sticks with white pigment, typically rice flour mixed with water and gum as a binder.

The Warli art uses basic geometrical vocabulary like stick figures, triangles, circles, and simple shapes to represent humans, animals, trees, and other elements of nature.  Mostly, scenes portraying hunting, farming, festivals, dances, trees, and animals surround the central motif in these paintings. Jivya Soma Mashe was the artist from Thane, Maharashtra who popularized this artform. However, some of the notable artists practicing this ancient art are Dilip Bahotha, and Anil Wangad, amongst others.