Tribal art exhibition highlights ecological wisdom

Inside the space laid out like a swastika, a sign of good luck, a soft drawing catches the eye. Made by Aditya Jain it’s called Nature’s Embrace. A pregnant woman stands tall, her long hair twisting into thick tree branches that reach for the sky. Her body blends with the earth, like she’s part of the forest. Inside her see-through belly, two tiny babies hold hands, glowing in a gentle light.

Another vibrant acrylic painting titled The Soul of the Tiger merges a woman’s calm left profile — dark hair, expressive eyes, beaded necklace — into a tiger’s fierce right profile. Surrounding motifs represent women with baskets, drummers and dancers framed in geometric borders, celebrating forest life and balance with nature.

These artworks are part of Silent Conversation: From Margins to the Centre, a tribal art exhibition now in its fourth year. The exhibit opened at the India Habitat Centre on Thursday, and was inaugurated by former President Ram Nath Kovind. It is being run by the Sankala Foundation, along with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).

Over 50 artists from 17 states and more than 30 tiger areas have brought 250 paintings and 30 crafts to the exhibition. Most of the artists here learnt art on their own in far-off villages-about 80 per cent still live deep inside or near forests.

Tribal communities and forest dwellers have long been the guardians of traditional knowledge, cultural heritage and ecological wisdom. They view forests not just as a source of livelihood but also as sacred spaces, protecting them through sustainable practices, customs and traditions passed down through generations.

According to the 2011 Census, nearly 1,70,000 villages in India lie in and around forested areas, and around 27 crore people depend on forests for survival. Many of India’s 50 tiger reserves overlap with tribal regions, where these communities continue to coexist with wildlife and play a crucial role in conservation.

The exhibition began in 2023 to mark 50 years of Project Tiger and helps people see how tribal communities have protected animals and forests for generations. Proceeds from the sale of artworks go straight to the artists. In earlier years, the exhibition was opened by some of the country’s key leaders. President Droupadi Murmu launched the first edition in 2023. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar opened the second in 2024, and the third was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Whispers from wild

Over 50 artists from 17 states and more than 30 tiger areas have brought 250 paintings and 30 crafts to the exhibition. The artworks higlight stories from tribes like Gond, Bhil, Saura, Warli, Singpo, Nishi, Chechu and Gaddi. Most of the artists here learnt art on their own in far-off villages, and about 80 per cent still live deep inside or near forests. Proceeds from the sale of artworks go straight to the artists. The exhibition, with a special focus on artists from the Northeast, remains open till October 12.