Art by Lalima Srivastava
Nature's Tapestry in Fusion Folk Art of India
15-28
Wading Bird: Madhubani and Warli art are folk arts from the states of Bihar and Maharashtra in India. Birds are an important motif in both folk arts. The painting depicts a bird standing in a pond in Madhubani, hunting a fish. The pond is in Warli. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor, ink, and acrylic.
Leaning Peacock: Madhubani and Warli art are folk arts from the states of Bihar and Maharashtra in India. The peacock is a common motif in both folk arts, symbolizing beauty, divine love, and the joyous arrival of the monsoon season. The painting depicts a leaning peacock in Warli, with bushes in Madhubani in the background. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor, ink, and acrylic.
Two Ravens: Madhubani art is a folk art from the state of Bihar, India. Ravens or crows are not a motif in folk art. In Hinduism, they symbolize adaptability and resilience. The painting depicts two Ravens in bharni (colored), perched on a tree in kachini (line art) style of Madhubani. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor, ink, and acrylic.
Owl in the Dark: Madhubani art is a folk art from the state of Bihar, India. The owl is an important motif, serving as a vehicle for the Goddess of wealth, Laxmi. It symbolizes wisdom, vigilance, and prosperity. The painting presents an owl in Bharni (colored) style sitting on a bare branch in the dark. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor and ink.
Birds in the Night Sky: Warli art is a folk art from the state of Maharashtra, India. Birds are an important motif in Warli art. The painting depicts birds around the moon in a cloudy sky, symbolizing harmony in nature. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor and acrylic.
Peacock at Rest: Madhubani art is a folk art from the state of Bihar, India. The peacock is a popular motif, symbolizing beauty and divine love. The painting depicts a peacock in Madhubani resting on a fruit tree in bharni (colored) style. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor and ink.
The Singing Bird: Madhubani art is a folk art from the state of Bihar, India. Birds are an important motif in Madhubani art. The painting depicts a singing bird surrounded by bushes in the kachini (line art) style of Madhubani. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor and ink.
Dual Threat: Madhubani and Warli art are folk arts from the states of Bihar and Maharashtra in India. The painting depicts predators, prey, and the instinct to survive. A tiny mouse rests in the field in Warli, unaware of an attack by a raptor in Madhubani style from above and by a snake in Warli from the ground. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor, ink, and acrylic.
Twin Snakes in Bushes: Madhubani art is a folk art from the state of Bihar, India. Snakes are divine protectors in Hindu mythology. This painting depicts twin snakes hiding in the bushes in the bharni (colored) style of Madhubani. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor, ink, and acrylic.
Wings, Pebbles, and Water: Warli art is a folk art from the state of Maharashtra, India. The painting depicts dragonflies around water and flies around pebbles, symbolizing natural harmony. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor and acrylic.
Entangled Snakes: Madhubani art is a folk art from the state of Bihar, India. Snakes are divine protectors in Hindu mythology. This painting depicts two snakes entangled in the bushes, with two snakes on the side, in bharni (colored) and kachini (line art) styles of Madhubani. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor, ink, and acrylic.
The Ant Colony (Bhon): Warli art is a folk art from the state of Maharashtra, India. Ant colonies are a common composition in Warli art. The painting depicts ants moving in rhythmic concentric circles, symbolizing a relationship with soil. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor and acrylic.
Two Snakes in Bushes: Madhubani and Warli art are folk arts from the states of Bihar and Maharashtra in India. Snakes are divine protectors in Hindu mythology. The painting depicts two snakes. One is in Warli, and the other is in Madhubani art, entangled on a tree branch. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor, ink, and acrylic.
Twin Monitor Lizards: Warli art is a folk art from the state of Maharashtra, India. The monitor is not a common motif in Warli art; it is more contemporary, symbolizing adaptability and survival. The painting depicts two identical monitor lizards lying in opposite directions between the pebbles. It is a freehand-sketched, unique composition in watercolor and acrylic.