How can two cultures, separated by oceans and lands, have immense similarities in their art form? The vibrant colours of Gond art and the intricate designs of Australia's Aboriginal Art seem worlds apart, yet share great similarities. Gond art is described by the mythological and folklore traditions of central India, whereas Aboriginal art, with a long history, was initially defined by ochre and bark shades. Gond and Aboriginal art share great similarities, but does this mean they share the same cultural roots?
Gond Fishes, Venkat Singh Shyam
“Gond is similar to Aboriginal art because the Aborigines have their own stories as we do, about creation, and they too make dashes and dots. Aboriginal art and Gond art have their connection because we are originally from the same continent”. ~ Venkat Singh Shyam
Gond and Aboriginal art share deep artistic and cultural relevance in their respective traditions, which are reflected in their culture's community and spiritual beliefs. The relationship between nature and their customs is shown in the Gond art that developed in central India. Similarly, the pointillist dots of Aboriginal art showcase the dreamlike connection with their land. This helps us understand how both art forms evolved separately but have a similar history. The incorporation of symbolic depictions of nature is one characteristic that ties them. This connects them with the ancient supercontinent called “Gondwana.” To fully explore this, let’s first begin with the origins of these two lands.
Gond art was first developed in central India, especially in Madhya Pradesh. It has a long history. The term Gond comes from the Dravidian word “Kond,” meaning “Green Mountains.” Gond art is known for its intricate patterns, vibrant colours, and mystical motifs, which reflect the natural world and mythology of the Gond people (Memeraki, Gond Art Residing in the Heart of India, 2024).
Shelter by Venkat Shyam, Acrylic on Paper
In contrast, the history of Aboriginal art in Australia dates back to 60,000 years. This makes it the oldest continuous tradition in the world (Artlandish, The Story of Aboriginal Art, 2024). This art form originally used ochre to create rock art to depict their spiritual beliefs. Aboriginal art mostly relies on symbols and iconography and lacks written language. However, it is not to say that the paintings are without any meaning. The paintings depict stories that can be understood by those who understand their iconography. These paintings were mostly done on rock; the reason for this was to preserve the history and storytelling. What started as a practical function, soon became part of their tradition. The origin of modern Aboriginal art began in the 20th century, and only after that did it receive global recognition. Today, Aboriginal art is done on numerous mediums such as canvases and walls, similar to the Gond painting tradition of India.
According to Eduard Suess, an Austrian geologist, the supercontinent “Gondwana” is named after the Gond people; it was here that the British geologists believed to have found the oldest rock systems of the country. The Gond and Aboriginals share common ties with this supercontinent. Millions of years ago, the supercontinent connected present-day South America, Africa, Australia, and India. The same geographical history shaped the cultural ties between these two groups, and the common deep respect for nature can be seen in their art forms. However, one needs to remember that modern human groups did not evolve for a long time after the continents split.
Peacock by Gond artist Venkat Shyam, Source: MeMeraki
Aboriginal dot painting from central and western desert, Source: Artlandish, Aboriginal Art Gallery
A comparison between Gond and Aboriginal art of Australia
Even in terms of artistic techniques, there are some common features. Both the art forms use dots and pointillism in paintings along with other elements, but these dots carry different spiritual symbolism. The use of natural pigments and bright colours describe these two art forms. Gond artists traditionally used natural materials like charcoal and plant saps for their paints, but they now use acrylic colours because of various reasons such as scarcity of natural materials or inexpensive plastic paints. The Gond art was originally painted on the household walls and is now replaced by canvas. Similarly, Aboriginal artists originally used natural materials and pigments, such as iron clay and ochre pigments, to create different colours. Aboriginal art differs in style from region to region. For instance, the Papunya Tula of the western desert is characterised by soft colours, while other Western Desert communities opt for strong colours.
No matter how many similarities they share in using dots and dashes, we still find some differences in the symbolism. In Gond art, dots are used because people believe that small particles of the human body disperse in space and join with the spirits to create a new form. However, the pointillism present in Aboriginal art reflects a spiritual connection to their land and dreamy narratives. Aboriginal art is connected with storytelling, the artists use different patterns, such as footprints, water wells, and celestial elements, to express these stories. Gond art, on the other hand, uses different colours and metaphors from flora and fauna, such as peacocks, crabs, and birds. The Mahua tree known as the “Tree of Life,” has a symbolic significance in the community, and is frequently depicted in Gond paintings.
Recently, the two art forms have gained international recognition. Gond art was first recognised in the 1980s when Jangarh Singh Shyam's paintings came into the limelight. Curator J. Swaminathan was fascinated by his brilliant skills and convinced him to study. Jangarh Shyam was the first Gond artist to create this beautiful art form on paper and canvas. His exceptional skills were recognised with his exhibitions hosted throughout the nation (Granthaalaya Publication, Indigenous Communication of Everyday Life and Philosophy: An Analysis of Gond Paintings in Madhya Pradesh, 2023). On the other hand, Aboriginal art emerged in the contemporary art scene around the 1970s, when a school teacher working with the Aboriginal community noticed men were narrating stories, that they would draw on the sand. He motivated them to create the same on canvas or board, which led to the contemporary Aboriginal art movement.
Aquatic Life in Gond by Venkat Shyam
Aboriginal and Gond art balance conserving ancient artistic methods while also adapting to contemporary society. One problem both art forms face is the loss of traditional techniques. Artists constantly make efforts to advance their skills to preserve this. For instance, due to modernisation, artists have adapted new techniques and materials such as acrylic paints, paper, and canvas. Similarly, Aboriginal artists play an important role in preserving their traditional methods. They have helped younger generations to connect with their art form. By maintaining a connection to their cultural history, they pass on ancestral values to the next generation while also passing down the cultural practices. Gond art plays the same role in the tribal Gond society.
Despite their vast geographical difference, both art forms share great similarities, in techniques and use of natural materials. It is also important to note that the art forms developed independently, yet in a similar manner. There are still a lot of symbolic differences. While Gond art is more about mythological and folklore traditions, Aboriginal art, on the other hand, has a deep connection with its ancestral land and stories. These indigenous art forms have adopted new methods over time, while still preserving their art traditions. With all the distinct yet shared connections, Gond and Aboriginal art have proven to influence the art scene in the world.
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