Devram – A Warli Artist
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Support Warli Art
About Warli
The Warlis or Varlis are an indigenous tribe or Adivasis, found in Jawhar, Mokhada, Dahanu and Talasari talukas of the northern Palghar district, parts of Nashik and Dhule districts of Maharashtra, Valsad, Dangs, Navsari and Surat districts of Gujarat.
About Warli Painting
The artists use red mud walls as a canvas for their paintings. Everything about the paintings is earthy and soothing. Warli paintings use geometric shapes mostly a circle, a square and a triangle. These geometric shapes depict different elements of nature. In fact, the circle depicts the sun and moon. The triangle depicts pointed mountains and trees. Besides, the square indicates a sacred piece of small land.
Warli paintings have their own stories right from birth to death. The paintings depict connectivity with nature and their regular lifestyle. In fact, one can catch a glimpse of their culture through the pictorial illustration. It mostly included fishing, farming and other activities. The Warli paintings depict rituals at birth, marriage, and also after death. Besides, they show a life filled with dance and music. The paintings are expressive with profound truth.
Current State
Genuine Warli is a vanishing art. In most of urban areas, modified version of adulterated warli is sold for very high commercial gain by not so genuine artists. However, the original artists never tried to capitalize on that. Over a period of time, they had to resort to other modes of earning viz working as construction workers, fishing or working at brick kiln etc, resulting in slow and gradual decline of this traditional art.
Our Artist – Devram Kashinath Pardhi
(Age – 30 Years; Education: 10th standard)
Devram is a warli tribal, born and brought up in Janathepada, in Vikramgad Taluka of Palghar. He had interest in warli painting and studies. He had to walk 8 to 10 kms for his education in the early days. He had to discontinue his education to support his poor family. He used to help his father in farming during the rains and used to assist a warli painter in the neighbouring village. After working for almost 10 years under the guidance of other artist, he decided to start on his own. Apart from the help from the teachers in the nearby village, Suhrid foundation also stepped-in to provide him financial support. He has a small workshop, wherein he processes the wood, gives the base color and makes genuine warli painting on various household items viz trays, pen stand, mobile holder, jewellery boxes, key rings, tea coaster, pen box, wall clock etc.. Currently, his sell is through the contacts and through Suhrid Foundation.
Due to issue related to finances and logistics, he is not able to sell his art on sites viz amazon or flipkart. Additionally, he can’t have a large inventory at his disposal till his business reaches to a particular level.
Our Objectives
- We (Suhrid foundation) want to promote this artist (and similar ones) to revive the forgotten art of warli.
- Provide ample financial support in the form of initial capital to these artists to ensure that they continue to work from home rather than working as construction workers or fishermen.
- Provide employment to the semi educated youth from the nearby village along with these artists, so that more artists are created.
Expected Support from the society
- Promote the genuine warli artists by purchasing the items from genuine artists
- Avoid comparison of these genuine art with the cheap Chinese items
- Help them expand the business, wherein the genuine art can be sold through online sites viz amazon or flipkart.
- Spread the word about these genuine artists in friends and families
Picture Gallery of few Warli Artifacts Made by Devram
