From the earliest examples of prehistoric rock paintings to the 16th century murals at the royal palace in Bundi, Rajasthan, right up to the graffiti street art of today — the impulse to decorate walls has always existed throughout human history. In fact, across India, ancient traditions of wall adornment continue to thrive, reinforcing the point that decorating lived spaces with markers of our experience and worldview is an instinct we cannot ignore.
Collecting is the other face of the coin to creating, a gesture born out of a visceral response to beauty and a desire to enrich life by claiming a piece of human creativity. Today, conversations on collecting are often clouded by the dizzying price tags attached to works created by ‘star artists’. But tribal Indian art is a wonderful and affordable gateway to bringing the joys of art into our lives. Created to mark moments of celebration or community spaces, natural mud brick walls become canvases for beauty and beliefs intricately intertwined. However, what was typically wall-based and location-specific art forms are now seen in tastefully designed homes across the country, and are rightfully treasured as art.
