History of Warli Painting: Warli Tribal Art of India

History of Warli Painting: Warli Tribal Art of India

These paintings mostly resemble prehistoric cave paintings. A majority of the Warli tribes are known to reside near the base of the Sahyadri mountains spread across the northern side of Mumbai, viz., Javhar, Dahanu, Talasari, Mokhada, Wada, and Palghar villages. The Warli culture is centered around the concept of Mother Nature, and elements of nature are often focal points depicted in Warli paintings. Farming is their main way of life and a large source of food for the tribe. They practiced shifting cultivation, moving from one forest to another, and came to inhabit a large stretch of land—from Dangs in southern Gujarat to Thane in northern Maharashtra....

Salient Features and Process of Creating Warli Painting

Warli Tribal Art of India: There are certain salient features associated with this style of painting. Some major features are:...

Significance of Warli Painting.

The various motifs and attributes associated with each painting are of great significance and value. Men and women in spiral form and concentric circular designs in Warli paintings symbolize the circle of life. The harmony and balance depicted in these paintings are supposed to signify the harmony and balance of the universe. The underlying theme in most Warli paintings is the tribe’s relationship with the land and nature. Scenes of farming, harvest, fishing, festivities, and weddings are all placed within the landscape of the north Konkan, complete with the region’s flora and fauna. The significance of Warli painting can be seen by how the painting’s motifs reflect the strong ties between the Warli people, who are considered the original inhabitants of the land and the forest....

Modernisation and Evolution of Warli Painting.

The early Warli paintings were done using vegetable colors that were mixed with clay. Then came the use of natural colors like black, white, yellow, and red. From this stage on, they started experimenting with various mediums and materials used in painting, like ink, charcoal, and oil color. With modernization, the objects depicted in such paintings have evolved to include objects like trains, airplanes, rickshaws, etc., and this reflects the versatility of the Warli artists while keeping the traditional art form alive....

Conclusion

Warli painting has evolved from tribal art and folk art to its present form, where human figures are also depicted as a part of contemporary Warli paintings. With each of its motifs symbolizing something, Warli painiting was originally traced back to 2500 B.C.E. In the above article, we have provided complete information about its history in depth. Also discover its distinctive features and the newly emerging concepts behind its making....

FAQs on History of Warli Painting | Warli Tribal Art of India

1. Where did the Warli painting originate from?...