Exhibition to highlight tribal artists’ stories

Tribal artists from across 17 states will gather in the Capital this week for Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre, a four-day exhibition that brings their art and conservation stories to the forefront. The exhibition will be inaugurated by Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan at India Habitat Centre tomorrow.

Now in its fourth edition, the event is organised by the Sankala Foundation with support from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA). The exhibition aims to highlight how forest-dwelling and tribal communities contribute to conserving India’s natural habitats, particularly tiger reserves.

More than 50 artists will present over 250 paintings and crafts inspired by life in and around forests. The artworks will showcase forms such as Gond, Warli and Saura, offering visitors a view into the communities’ relationship with nature and wildlife. Proceeds from the artwork sales will be credited directly to the artists’ accounts.

The organisers said the exhibition sought to promote public understanding of how these communities lived in harmony with forest ecosystems. It will also explore ways to create alternative livelihoods that reduce dependence on forest resources.

Alongside the exhibition, a national conference titled Tribal Arts and India’s Conservation Ethos: Living Wisdom will be held on October 10, organised by Sankala Foundation in partnership with the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will inaugurate the conference, which will bring together policymakers, conservationists and community leaders.

The Silent Conversation series was first conceptualised in 2023 to mark 50 years of Project Tiger. President Droupadi Murmu and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar inaugurated earlier editions.

Since its inception, the initiative has evolved into a platform connecting tribal livelihoods, cultural heritage, and conservation efforts. The exhibition will be open to the public from October 9 to 12.