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Late Bloomer: Indigenous Artist's Colors Dazzle
31 Jan
Summary
- Jodhaiya Bai Baiga, an indigenous artist, gained recognition late in life.
- Her art blends cultural memory, spirituality, and nature from central India.
- She received the Padma Shri award in 2023 for her contributions.
A significant exhibition, 'Bloom at Dusk,' is highlighting the profound artistic journey of Jodhaiya Bai Baiga, a celebrated Padma Shri awardee. This retrospective brings together over fifty of her luminous and symbol-rich works.
Born in 1937 in Madhya Pradesh, Baiga's artistic path began in her late sixties after discovering an arts center near her village. She transitioned from traditional crafts to acrylic painting, creating powerful visuals deeply connected to her cultural memory and the natural environment of central India.
Baiga's art is profoundly influenced by Baiga cosmology, spirituality, and ecological knowledge. Her canvases feature divine figures, ancestral spirits, and forest animals, with recurring motifs like the mahua tree and the tiger god, Baghesur. She also addresses environmental issues, bringing an indigenous perspective to contemporary concerns.
Her significant contributions to Indian art were acknowledged with the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2022 and the Padma Shri in 2023. Baiga's work has also been showcased internationally, introducing global audiences to the rich visual traditions of the Baiga community.
