Unassuming Warli figures might not seem like much to the untrained eye. But a closer look will tell you that there’s more to Warli than what meets the eye. It is not just an art form, but a way of life for the Warli (Varli) tribes from the mountains and coastal regions in and around the borders of Maharashtra and Gujarat. This art form that originated around 3000 BC has an enigmatic appeal to it.
The intricate geometric patterns of flowers, wedding rituals, hunting scenes and other everyday activities are quite popular among fashion designers and home décor brands. Those from the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra surely have a sense of sentiment attached to the art form as they’ve seen it on the walls of rural schools and homes way before they became popular on modern lifestyle products. The simple, yet beautifully delicate patterns have a certain raw appeal about them.
Content
The painting is done on an austere mud base using one color, white, with occasional dots in red and yellow. This color is obtained from grounding rice into white powder. This sobriety is offset by the ebullience of their content.
The depictions in the Warli paintings, which include marriages and other significant things are often considered sacred. These paintings also serve social and religious aspirations of the local people.
What Warli painting says?
The sacred nature of the trees is suggested by their soaring heights in relation to the men and beasts. Dances of spring, of budding trees, of the meeting of lovers, and the poise and abandon form an important repertoire in tribal vocabulary. Nothing is static; the trees, the human figures, the birds challenge and respond to each other, create tensions and resolve them. The art of the Tribal people symbolizes man’s harmony with each other and with nature. These paintings also supposedly invoke powers.
Modern Trends in Warli art
Warli artists hardly use a straight line. Instead of a line, series of dots and dashes are made. However, nowadays modern artists have begun to draw straight lines in their paintings. Many people have also started to use modern elements such as the bicycle, car, building, computer, spacecraft, train etc. apart from traditional themes. Artists are now shifting to paper and cloth paintings. Warli paintings on paper have become very popular and are now sold all over India & abroad. Today, small paintings are done on cloth and paper but they look best on the walls or in the form of huge murals that bring out the vast and magical world of the tribal people.
Keeping the art alive
While art forms like these are finding it hard to survive in this digital age, a few thoughtful souls are doing their bit to keep the tradition alive. One such savior is Govardhan Eco Village in Thane district that makes an effort to keep this art form alive by providing Warli artists various platforms to display their art.
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