LADOO BAI-BHIL-Madhya Pradesh, India Human activity and rituals (LB 184)

Bhil art is instinctive and primal, originating from a long-standing affinity to nature. Bhil is what comes to mind while discussing uniqueness in the arts. The Bhil’s, who are India’s second-largest tribal group, are spread out across the states of central India primarily Madhya Pradesh. Before switching to canvas and paper, traditionally the Bhil artists would decorate the walls of their houses, by using tree sticks, twigs or branches. These paintings were made using natural dyes derived from turmeric, flour, vegetables, leaves, and oil, resulting in vivid colours that were used to create captivating frescos on floors and walls. The Bhils created a unique language through their paintings to reflect their experiences. The primary element of Bhil art is story-telling and artists describe diverse memories of a specific rite through their art. Historically in Bhil art, in particular, huge but life-like shapes of not-unusual characters are drawn. Those motifs are then filled with earthy however brilliant colors in plain shape with dots.