The Life & Art of the Warli People of India

The indigenous Warli people of rural western India revere the land as the infinitely creative energy of nature. Their dynamic folk paintings—traditionally done in rice paste on the mud walls of their homes—use a richly textured pictorial language to celebrate the divine balance of a life lived in meaningful coexistence with the natural world.

To this day, Warli communities in the forested areas north of Mumbai continue to live according to the traditional practices and philosophies of their ancestors, struggling to strike a sustainable balance as forest-dwellers in a rapidly industrializing society. It is only in recent years that the mainstream art world in India has begun to take notice of their extraordinary folk paintings, bringing them out of their village-based ritual, domestic, and decorative contexts to a broader audience throughout India. The art and life of the Warlis remain virtually unknown in the United States.

Master artist Anil Chaitya Vangad will speak of his life in a traditional Warli family compound and the philosophies that are unique to his community, and his paintings, which celebrate the divine balance between humans and the natural world. This event will provide a rare opportunity for Twin Cities audiences to meet this extraordinary artist and hear about his traditional, sustainable way of life.

Presented by Ragamala Dance in partnership with the Alliance for Sustainability and the Wedge Co-op

Sean Gosiewski, Program Director of the Alliance for Sustainability, will moderate this talk, which will also feature a translator for Mr. Vangad

Date: Wednesday, September 14, 6:30pm

Location: Fontaine Auditorium, St. Mark's Cathedral, 519 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis

Anil Chaitya Vangad hails from the village of Ganjad in western India, the third generation in a family of Warli artists. Since 1991, his work has been exhibited throughout India at prominent galleries and through prestigious mural commissions.