About the Author

Hailing from the Gond tribe of Madhya Pradesh in India, Bhajju Shayam's captivating visuals and easy storytelling style fuse his perceptions of the modern world with his tribe's unique visual language. His work has been exhibited widely in India, as well as in Milan, The Hague, Paris and London. Perhaps the most versatile artist of the Gond art tradition, Bhajju uses inherited forms in very current and expressive ways, while experimenting with innovative subjects and new ideas. "There are new influences in my work, but my art is still the same", he has said, reflecting upon his success. "I never expected this kind of response; I thought people would find my way of looking at the world odd". Ram Singh Urveti, an artist from central India, is one of the most brilliant living artists of the Gond tradition. His work has spread the myths and stories of the Gond community throughout Asia, Europe, Australia and South America and has won him national and international awards. His work creates a world of fantasy and metamorphosis, coming alive with finely detailed forms. Durga Bai is a young tribal artist from the Gond tradition of central India. Gond is a ritual and functional art style with distinctive decorative elements, mostly painted on walls of houses, using natural colours. Durga constantly re-works and pushes the borders of the form to create art that sparkles with a distinctive energy.

Reviews

Thanks to the artisan bookmakers at Tara Publishing a beautiful handmade book looks set to help us all discover an enchantment in even the ropiest urban sapling... The Nightlife of Trees is a striking handbound and screen-printed ode to the legends, folklore and spirituality of the forest. The arboretum of illustrationsfound within The Night Life of Tree's pages are silkscreened onto black handmade stock, allowing each magical tree and its narrative to shine out of the dark - and offering a captivating foray into the Gond imagination, where trees intoxicate and embrace, peacocks dance and sore-eyed bullocks seek out healing sap. grafik The book is a charming and delightful read ... providing a glimpse into the rich storytelling tradition and imaginative world of Gond folklore. Time Out A book where the nightingale sings until morning. John Berger