Colloquial presents an overview of our rich art heritage. All these years of working with the traditional arts and weaves has enhanced my desire to carry on with my research of this vast world of indigenous art. My heritage is my gravity and inspiration. Each work from the show is a result of direct interaction with the artists’ and the result ever so satisfying.

The show brings together five traditional art forms – Gond, Pichwai, Kalamkari, Pattachitra and Madhubani – through the works of seven revered artists. The hotel acts as a platform to promote and provide outreach to Gallery Ragini’s earnest endeavor.

Dhavat Singh, the Gond artist, tells stories through his work. It brings out folk-lore, tribal myths and tweaks in contemporary issues in his narrative. Belonging to the family of the celebrated Gond artist Jangarh, Dhavat takes forward this tradition and makes it more relevant for the contemporary times.

A Kumar Jha has been working on the theme of the lost heritage of Ganga. The Madhubani artist is translating his grief for the lost legacy into his paintings. A Kumar Jha follows the line drawing tradition of Madhubani with the traditional zeal.

K.M. Singh is driven by his love for his hometown, Nathdwara. He endeavors to uphold his family tradition of painting Pichwai’s for the ancient Shreenath Temple. He paints traditional subjects of the region.

Anil Khakhoriya practices the traditional method of embroidery on fabric to create an eclectic texture on the Pichwai.

S.Vishwanathan is committed to save the ancient art form of Kalamkari set in the beauteous temple town Srikalahasti. The artist paints with natural dyes on hand spun cotton fabric, a tradition passed on over centuries. Motifs drawn in Kalamkari spans from flowers, peacock, paisleys to divine characters of Hindu epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana.

S. Srinivas Rao hails from the town of Machlipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. His family have been custodians of Kalamkari art for centuries. He specializes in carving out his own woodcut blocks for his art. Srinivas has been awarded the state award in the year 1996.

Prakash Chandra hails from the artist village of Raghurampur in Orissa. His detailed pen work and his beautiful paintings derive from the traditional Rath Yatra at the Jagannath temple. His work also reflects the prevalent contemporary culture around him.

Shoba Jolly, in her attempt to document the regions where this artform is created, Shoba Jolly’s work is path breaking.

-Nidhi J Jain