OF AESTHETICS&THE VERNACULAR

OF AESTHETICS&THE VERNACULAR

The Warli tribe is one of the largest in India, located outside of Mumbai. Despite being close to one of the largest cities in India, the Warli reject much of contemporary culture. The style of Warli painting was not recognised until the 1970s, even though the tribal style of art is thought to date back as early as 10th century A.D. The Warli culture is centered around the concept of Mother Nature and elements of nature are often focal points depicted in Warli painting. Farming is their main way of life and a large source of food for the tribe. They greatly respect nature and wildlife for the resources that they provide for life.]Warli artists use their clay huts as the backdrop for their paintings, similar to how ancient people used cave walls as their canvases.In February 2016, a group of Japanese artists adopted the Ganjad village in Palghar district in an effort to keep the art form alive. This group of social artists from Japan have also been constructing huts from cow dung, mud and bamboo sticks to promote painting on the walls. Dahanu is another village that has managed to keep Warli art alive. In a world of excesses, unpretentiousness is a rarity and this art form keeps that belief alive. So, purchasing and promoting hand-painted Warli items seems like a fitting tribute to this one-of-a-kind art form. And while you’re at it, you might want learn a thing or two from their way of living.