The Valley
of Enlightenment
The birds have journeyed across the Valleys of the Quest, Love, Understanding, Detachment, Unity and Wonderment. In the process, they have opened themselves up to a deeper perception of Who they are and What they are seeking. As they become aware of the ephemeral nature of the material world, they recognize that for true Union, one must be “like a flaming fire” and completely surrender to the Divine – the Simurgh!
With this understanding, they arrive at the final Valley, the Valley of Enlightenment. To welcome the birds and take them towards the inner wisdom that has been handed down generations, are the Warlis, an indigenous tribe of western India, living in the mountainous as well as coastal areas along the Maharashtra-Gujarat border.
This art of telling stories is an integral part of Warli culture and is interwoven with the tribe’s everyday life, deeply connected to the Land and the elements. Known for the paintings that are usually on the outside walls of their mud huts, Warli Art is an age-old tradition that dates back to the 10th Century, when the art was used as a means of narrating folk tales. Since there is no written script for the tribe, these paintings became an alternative mode of expression.
This is where we meet our two young Warli artists, Mayur and Tushar Vayeda, who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of preserving the purity of Warli Art, infusing it with a new life force that organically absorbs international influences.
The Work
''Once Upon a Time, in a Land not so Far Away' lived a community that was in complete harmony with the environment. As young Mayur and Tushar bridge the gap between the rural and the urban, the traditional and the modern, they re-discover the wisdom of their ancestors, and give it expression on their canvas.
A fascinating series called ‘Disappearing Spirits’ unfurls 16 paintings that try to ascribe form to the formless, exploring deep-rooted beliefs about the Universe and Creation. ‘The Wave’ is their brilliant response to the Covid 19 pandemic devastating the World, and its impact on the tribals as well.
Watch this documentary to take a peek into the Warli traditions, and see how two young artists, Tushar and Mayur Vayeda, are taking their culture and art form forward.
'Once Upon a Time, In a Land not so Far Away'... The Valley of Enlightenment
The Process
From painting on walls to painting on canvas, Mayur and Tushar retain the purity of their Art Form to whatever extent possible. Most important is their consciousness of preserving this Legacy, of handing it over to future generations.
Their new series “The Creation of the World” is a breath-taking representation of 18 canvases that explore the beginnings of the Cosmos with the Big Bang, with Mahadev ie. Lord Shiva and his consort, Ganga Gauri ie. Goddess Parvati descending on Earth, and the ensuing story of preservation, destruction and the continuum of Life, through renewing our balance with Nature and all the life forms of the Planet.
As the Warlis struggle to keep their head above the tsunami of globalisation and strive to bring back equilibrium, between the consumption and replenishment of our planet’s resources, their inherent simplicity and joy serve as a beacon for our way forward.
'The Creation of the World' The Valley of Enlightenment
The Gallery
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