Mayur Vayeda, b.1992 and Tushar Vayeda b.1987, Warli people, India / Regeneration (detail) 2021 / Water based colour and cow dung on cloth

Regeneration [ ri-jen-uh-rey-shuhn ]

Meaning:

- The restoration or new growth by an organism of parts that have been lost, removed, or injured.

- Spiritual rebirth

Last week Mayur and Tushar Vayeda’s stories of creation opened to the public at the 10th ASIA PACIFIC TRIENNIAL (APT10) OF CONTEMPORARY ART at QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY | GALLERY OF MODERN ART (QAGOMA). Seen at a scale and level of detail unprecedented in the centuries-old tradition of Warli painting, the series of paintings span across more than 30 metres in length.

It is in this ground-breaking context that ARTISANS’ presents the first ever exhibition in Mumbai of the indigenous Warli brothers Mayur (29) and Tushar (38) Vayeda from the village of Ganjad, Maharashtra, India.

In Regeneration the Vayedas seek to reconnect with their ancestors; to reclaim and reconstruct their ancient legacy for a new generation; and to transform their collective lives. 

It is a clarion call not only for the Warli community, but also for all of humanity. The Vayedas use the vocabulary of Warli painting to animate their message and “to move Warli tradition forward, without diluting its essence”.

Artists’ Statement

“Our journey of life, began in a serene Warli village, neatly tucked within the folds of that land, where two cultures distinctly envisioned by imaginary borders, meet. We grew up basking in the nature-loving ways of the Warli tribe that we were born into while being surrounded by beautiful lush jungles, mighty mountains and playful rivers, which gave us much fodder to ponder the mysterious ways of the universe. 

We are brothers by blood, and as God would have it, we are also brothers in Spirit, bonded by our love for art and for life. Our parents sowed a powerful seed – that of education. 

In our growing years, we spent most of our time walking in the jungles, slingshot in hand, mastering our aim and letting our imagination thrive amidst the fresh air of the wild. The jungles, the mountains, the animals, together with Warli tradition and culture inspired us to become Warli artists so we try to capture the pulsing beauty of this fine world, and share with you, the mystical wonders and the spontaneous fleeting moments of joy as well as sorrow, that life, in all its subtle intricacies, holds for all of us. 

Warli environment always helps us to get our tribal art more closely, fuelled by our passion for its evocative designs that make still figures leap into life! We are now introducing that spit of vivid storytelling in our own Warli paintings that we work on day in and day out, practicing this rich art together and sharing with this world our labor of love. 

As a child, I was more likely to be found on the forest floor studying the miniature worlds of moss rather than gazing at the grand vista of an overlook. We find inspiration in the smallest of things- the way a shadow falls on the curve of a leaf; a flower folding up when its bloom is spent; the metamorphosis from fecundity to decay. The patterns and fractals of nature fascinate me. 

We enjoy painting/writing about these ethereal moments in time and space on the canvas, and weaving them with stories and myths we grew up around and this space here, our dear friends, is our offering to the beautiful gift we are all endowed with- this bountiful life, on this wondrous earth.” Mayur and Tushar Vayeda

Bags of Delight

Plastic bags are pervasive in today’s world as they are helpful in carrying a variety of products, are strong and durable, and resistant to water. The unfortunate downside is that many plastic bags are discarded after use or as they give way.  These bags often reach landfills and water bodies, where they affect natural life, the earth and water as they take decades or even centuries to degrade. Further, they often do not decompose completely but into micro-plastics that pollute the environment

Haraguchi’s fascination with Indian textiles began in 1986, when she first visited the country while working for the Japanese brand, Muji. Since then, fascination transformed into a life-long passion, which Haraguchi has successfully channeled into a cross-cultural creative pursuit. Working collaboratively with skilled Indian weavers, her designs focus on the interplay of traditional Indian textiles with age-old Japanese dyeing techniques.

Based in Chennai, Tara Book's aims to change the perspective from which stories are told, while simultaneously ensuring that their books are reflective of the rich heritage of India.The hallmark of their publishing is engagement with the vibrant diversity of Indian folk and tribal art. 

Indigenous women of the Chakesang tribe from Leshemi, a remote Naga village in the mountains of North East India, continue to weave nettle shawls, unique to their own identity, on back-strapped looms. The fiber-to-fabric journey is completely local and self-sustaining, with the minor exception of the raw organic cotton used now being sourced from outside of the community.