53 for 53: Indian Folk Art Corridor workshop marks UAE National Day

Indian artist and curator Vidisha Pandey, also the founder of UAE’s one and only gallery dedicated to Indian folk and tribal art, Indian Folk Art Corridor, created an artistic landmark by conducting a workshop on Indian folk and tribal art with 53 students, commemorating the 53rd UAE National Day (Eid Al Etihad). Indian Folk Art Corridor focuses exclusively on raising awareness about the rich heritage of Indian folk and tribal arts. For the current event, a team of 6 Indian artists came together to conduct the workshop. The names of the artists are as follows, with the art forms they provided in brackets:

Vidisha Pandey (Manjusha art from Bihar); Manasi Deodhar (Gond art from Madhya Pradesh); Jaya Phulwani (Dot mandala); Neha Agarwal (Warli art from Maharashtra); Radha Bhatia (Kachani art from Bihar); and Renuka Chaudhry (Mithila art from Bihar). “Our aim was to conduct this workshop with 53 students, and Gems Legacy School provided their full support in making it possible,” said Pandey. “The sole goal in conducting this art workshop was to promote Indian art on a global platform, ensuring that more people become aware of the richness of Indian art and culture.”

Artwork from the event.

Pandey strongly believes that Indian folk and tribal arts have to be supported with the utmost effort to take Indian art to greater heights and provide it with a stronger platform to flourish even more. The highlight of the workshop was the fusion of UAE’s culture with the colours of Indian art. For example, a camel was depicted through Mithila painting, while a falcon was adorned with the intricate designs of Gond art. The UAE’s culture and heritage were adorned in the pulsating colours of Warli, Manjusha and Mandala art.

The students, while enjoying the workshop, also got the opportunity to learn about different art forms. The principal of GEMS Legacy School, Asha Alexander, and Bhavna, Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, made significant contributions to the workshop. “They appreciated the efforts of the Indian Folk Art Corridor in taking this initiative forward,” Pandey said. Students who participated in workshop included Lisa Albert Alvares; Chandini Devi Surendran; Rachael Rajeev Zacharia; Joanna Maria Samin; Hiba Fathima; Chakkungal Fasil; Blesslianne Garcia; Nida Fatima; Rithvi Ranjith; Gautham Krishna Mangathi; Aryan Sankar Ravisankar; Rida Arefin; Aahil Mohamed Shabeer; Snigdha Princy Arun; Mikitha Satish Kumar; Sameeksha Kodeeswaran; Rayan Ul Shifa Bhagrudin; June Vailanka Colaco; Zoey Kristabelle Dsouza; Niveditha Kannam Valappu; Rishika Puri; Shreya Arunachalam; Aisha Zainab Mohideen; Urit Ana D Souza; Aparna Shibu Kumar; Dhwani Suneeth Nair; Mubaraka Shabbir; Zakir Husain; Jessica Guthala; Deekshita Senthilmumar; Fatima Hashim; Sayed Mohammed Hashim; Aradhya Dwivedi; Zara Atif; Swethaa Shree Arun Kumar; Mohamed Aayan; Abdul Ameer; Serah Vimal George; Purlaksh Prasanna Dessai; Aditi Ramesh; Mohammad Fawzan Anwar; Aliza Talvaskar; Agnes Baby Joseph; Kanishka Rani Ilayaraja; Mariam Khan; Amjad Khan; Joanna Bennette; and Erich Klien.

Participants in the workshop raise a cheer.

India is a diverse country with 28 states and 8 union territories, each contributing more than two unique art forms. The art style of every Indian State is uniformly saturated with colour and often have storytelling as their basis, providing insight not only into the country’s cultural values, but also into the political, financial and social aspects of the time. When the Corridor gallery was established, its first exhibition, titled ‘Pankhudee’ (Petals), was held under the patronage of the Consulate General of India – Dubai. 27 different art forms were shown then.

“My aim is to bring recognition to each and every art form that originates from the native and interior regions of India,” Pandey said. “As part of this effort, for the past two years, we have been publishing a New Year calendar through which we have showcased 24 art forms, so far. We plan to continue featuring different and unique art forms in the future as well.” The art that has been shown in the calendar till date are as follows: Samay (2023 calendar) - Kalighat art (West Bengal); Mandana art (Rajasthan); Saura art (Odisha); Lippan art (Gujarat); Kalamkari art (Andhra Pradesh); Phad art (Rajasthan); Mandala art (India); Pichwai art (Rajasthan); Warli art (Maharashtra); Theyyam art (Kerala); Tanjore art (Tamil Nadu); and Manjusha art (Bihar).

Vidisha Pandey is founder of Indian Folk Art Corridor.

SuPushp (2024 calendar) - Gond art (Madhya Pradesh); Devnagri lipi (Ancient India); Mughal art (Mediaeval India); Meenakari art (Rajasthan); Cheriyal art (Telangana); Kolam art (Kerala and Tamil Nadu); Rangoli art (from various parts of India); Line Mandala (India); Aipan art (Uttarakhand); Rogan art (Gujarat); Blue pottery art (Rajasthan); and Mithila art (Bihar). “From Kashmir to Kanyakumari (north to south), everything in India changes — be it language, attire, food, water, or art forms,” Pandey concluded. “As the founder of Indian Folk Art Corridor, I strongly believe that Indian art deserves the best opportunity to show the world its value. These art forms can be collected, incorporated into home decor, and celebrated as a part of a country’s rich cultural heritage.”

The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in its publication ‘Living Traditions: Tribal and Folk Paintings of India’ notes that “almost every state and agricultural and tribal community of India has its distinct painting style, and some have more than one. Differences occur even as one goes from one village to another. Their deep connection with their surroundings and their spiritual association with all manifestations of nature, has shaped their work. All these features point towards the rich and varied traditions of the country.”