The Dance of Life
Warli folk art is a form of tribal art done by tribal people in the northern region of the Sahyadri Range.
Warli art focuses on Mother Nature and its various elements. The art is identified by its simplicity in shapes, use of single white colour, minimum tools and creation of beautiful motifs by using simple lines, triangles, squares, circles and dots to form numerous shapes depicting life and beliefs of the Warli tribe. The circle represents the sun and the moon; the triangle mountains and conical trees; and the square, a human invention depicting a sacred enclosure or a piece of land.
The beautiful yet delicate geometric patterns of flowers, hunting scenes, farming, wedding rituals, and daily activities bring the painting alive.
Warli paintings depict a sense of uniformity in people and highlight close social relationships within their community. A Warli painting can also be a visual narration of their traditional stories.
The artwork here depicts one of the most popular themes in Warli art- a spiral chain of humans around one central motif. This in accordance with their belief that life is an eternal journey, and it has no beginning or end. Everyday life involving cooking, horse riding, farming etc. also forms a part of their visual story.
