Date:27/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/27/stories/2007072756680200.htm

New Delhi

A trio of tribal art

THIS FOR ``TALK OF THE TOWN” WITH PICTURE.

An exhibition of prints, paintings and pottery created by tribal communities from the remotest parts of the country opens at AIFACS Art Gallery in the Capital on Friday.

Titled ‘Tribes, 3 Ps: Prints, Paintings and Pottery’ and organised by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), the artefacts displayed at the exhibition will be up for sale as well. The exhibition will be inaugurated by eminent artists Jai Zharotia and Amrut Patel. Most tribal paintings on display revolve round the theme of rituality and are created to mark occasions like marriage, child birth, the harvest season and festivals. They also depict various gods and goddesses. Paintings by tribals from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and the Northeastern States will be displayed.

Pottery crafted by tribes from Manipur using various ‘firing’ methods, some of which involve heating the clay objects to 900 degrees Celsius, will be showcased. The characteristically black ‘Longpi’ pottery made by the Tangkhul Naga tribe of Manipur will also be exhibited. TRIFED has been functioning since 1987 as a national-level apex organisation under the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs.The exhibition is open for viewing up to this coming Monday.

Kunal Diwan