Gond community
Kalpa Vriksha
Venkat Raman Singh Shyam
Pardhan Gond People
Born 1970, Sijhora, India
Lives and works in Bhopal, India
The Gonds are one of the largest indigenous peoples of India and are spread throughout several states of central India. Gond paintings were initially executed only on the walls of dwellings as an expression of religious beliefs, a record of daily life and local festivals, and to depict the surrounding environment and creatures. Gond artwork is characterised by the use of natural symbols such as trees and animals, with meanings rooted in animistic folktales and the culture of the Gond people. Venkat Raman Singh Shyam is the nephew of Jangarh Singh Shyam (1962–2001), one of the first indigenous Indian artists to gain international recognition when his work was included in the seminal 1989 exhibition 'Magiciens de la Terre'. Venkat Shyam began painting at the age of 10, and draws from Gond myth, oral history and nature, as well as depicting scenes of modern city life and his own personal experience.
Venkat Raman Singh Shyam has also worked with the QAGOMA Children's Art Centre to develop a project for APT8 Kids.
![Venkat Raman Singh Shyam / Pardhan Gond people / Sijhora, Madhya Pradesh, India b.1970 / Under the tree 2015 A painting of seven deer-like creatures with trees growing in place of antlers; the background is bright yellow and the trees' leaves are red and green.](/index.php/system/files/styles/wide/private/object-images/GOND_SHYAM.jpg?itok=S687g2oE)
![© Venkat Raman Singh Shyam Artwork Aag this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 2010-01-01](/index.php/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2024-04/2015.202_001.jpg?itok=AO5AQF5K)
Aag 2010
- SHYAM, Venkat Raman Singh - Creator
![© Venkat Raman Singh Shyam Artwork Attack this artwork made of Ink and synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 2009-01-01](/index.php/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2024-04/2016.010_001.jpg?itok=6W7iL02C)
Attack 2009
- SHYAM, Venkat Raman Singh - Creator
![© Venkat Raman Singh Shyam Artwork Fruit-gun this artwork made of Ink and synthetic polymer paint on paper, created in 2009-01-01](/index.php/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2024-04/2016.014_001.jpg?itok=A5yKAjUs)
Fruit-gun 2009
- SHYAM, Venkat Raman Singh - Creator
![© Venkat Raman Singh Shyam Artwork Life on boat this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on paper, created in 2015-01-01](/index.php/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2024-04/2016.012_001.jpg?itok=v9_um8nY)
Life on boat 2015
- SHYAM, Venkat Raman Singh - Creator
![© Venkat Raman Singh Shyam Artwork Mahadev-Gaura this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 2015-01-01](/index.php/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2024-04/2016.011_001.jpg?itok=okJvcqu7)
Mahadev-Gaura 2015
- SHYAM, Venkat Raman Singh - Creator
![© Venkat Raman Singh Shyam Artwork Rescue this artwork made of Ink and synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 2009-01-01](/index.php/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2024-04/2015.204_001.jpg?itok=Rf_OXz1B)
Rescue 2009
- SHYAM, Venkat Raman Singh - Creator
![© Venkat Raman Singh Shyam Artwork Signal this artwork made of Ink and synthetic polymer paint on paper, created in 2009-01-01](/index.php/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2024-04/2016.013_001.jpg?itok=WBp7FGGB)
Signal 2009
- SHYAM, Venkat Raman Singh - Creator
![© Venkat Raman Singh Shyam Artwork Under the tree this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 2015-01-01](/index.php/system/files/styles/large/private/object-images/2024-04/2016.009_001.jpg?itok=-tsfSD7k)
Under the tree 2015
- SHYAM, Venkat Raman Singh - Creator