2020, a very strange year where plans keep changing on a daily basis, for everybody on the planet…

A strange year where most of us encounters unexpected challenges, changes, fears, doubts, and have no other option than adapt, hope and be patient.

A strange way to learn how to slow down and make the most of every moment on this Earth…. At least the planet herself and the whole natural world enjoyed that respite, well deserved after so many years of abuse…

I was in India earlier this year, when the Covid started to be famous and took over the media. Fortunately, before being repatriated by the end of March ( with the grateful help from the Embassies of Ireland and Belgium), I had the great pleasure to spend some time with my friends from Madhya Pradesh and the Gond tribal artists…

Link to article on website from Allihies to Patangarh, 2019

My husband and best friend Richie was with me this time, and just like me last year, he fell under the Gond village’s spell. Our project was still vague, but we knew we wanted to organise something to bring support to the villagers so they can maintain their tribal lifestyle. Richie had planned to make more photos and films in a view to make a well documented website.

Watch the film below to get a feeling for the project

With Santosh Kumar Dwivedi, who introduced me last year to Patangarh and its artists, we stayed in the village and they all welcomed us as if we were long-time friends… I was even appointed as Sumarthya’s grandmother, as I stayed last year with the family of Deepika, his mother who was then pregnant !

We spent some unforgettable time with the families, learned a few words of their language, a few tips of their cooking, a few steps of their dancing in the intimate soft light of candles. We shared their meals, sitting on the floor, surrounded with smiles and laughs about the difference of our cultures and the simple happiness of sharing.

During our stay in the village, the word had spread around about us and our love of art. One afternoon, dozens of artists came to us with their work, desperate to find a way to sell. It is clear that their beautiful, genuine lifestyle is actually economically under threat , and this year probably more than ever …

We all sat under the shade of a tree and , with the help of Santosh and smart phones translator, we came with a plan: we would purchase a number of their art at a fixed price and once it sells in Europe, we would pay them more. Of course that plan induced a lot of trust and honesty, but all the artists agreed to take the risk, or the chance…

I spent hours filled with wonder at the beauty of the countless paintings I saw, with the very difficult task of choosing a limited number of pieces ( the “limited” number overflew a big time before the end of that afternoon…) . I was very careful to be fair and choose at least one piece from each artist.

We left the village with wet eyes, yet full of hope and excitement about our project. I promised to come back next year for a longer stay and learn more language, cooking, dancing, Gond culture…

I was craving a long dive into their simple lifestyle, far from the crazy world that we call “civilised”….

2020…

Back home, and 9 months later…

The Covid changed and slowed down our plans, but we still want to share with you all our love for the Gond culture and art.

The initial planned exhibition had to be cancelled, but we have worked hard on this website and it is now, at last, ready to launch the sales…

By buying this art, you will give a significant support to the artist and family, as well as to their Gond tribal village in India.

We are extremely grateful for that…

45 artists, 127 paintings.

Welcome to the Gond magic world…

We wish you all a wonderful travel …

Thank you,

Nadette (Leela) and Richie

Technical details…

Most of the pieces are in A3 size, mount and backing board are made from a superior cardboard assuring lifespan and conservation quality.

Each painting is signed in Hindi by the artist, the phonetic version of their name figures at the back as well as on the jointed card.

Each piece of art is sold at the same price (postage is included), for an obvious purpose of fairness to the artists who genuinely put their trust and hope in this adventure.

If you have any question or suggestion, please feel free to contact us !