Jivya Soma Mashe
Encyclopedia
Jivya Soma Mashe is an artist of the Maharashtra
state in India
, who popularised the Warli
tribal art
form.
Mashe was born in Dhamangaon village in Talasari
taluka of Thane district
of Maharashtra
. At the age of 11, he came to Kalambipada village in Dahanu
taluka of Thane district, where he presently lives. In the 1970s the Warli Painting, which was a predominantly ritual art till that time, took a radical turn, when Jivya Mashe started to paint not for any special ritual, but on an everyday basis.
His talent was soon noticed, first nationally (it was rewarded straight from the hand of India
's senior political figures, such as Nehru and Indira Gandhi
) then internationally (Magiciens de la terre
, Centre Pompidou), bringing unprecedented recognition, which prompted many other young men to follow suit. They started to paint regularly for commercial purposes.
The first government agents sent to preserve and protect Warli Painting were amazed by his artistic abilities. Jivya Soma Mashe showed a heightened sensitivity and unusually powerful imagination, which seem to be the legacy of his early introspective period. Paper and canvas freed him from the constraints of working on rough, sheer walls and he transformed the brusque look of the ephemeral paintings into a free, deeply sensitive style. His sensitivity emerges in every detail of his paintings. Strokes, lines and a mass of dots swarm and vibrate on the canvas, coming together to form clever compositions which reinforce the general impression of vibration. Details and the overall composition both contribute to a sense of life and movement. Recurring themes, from tribal life and Warli legends, are also a pretext for celebrating life and movement.
Jivya Soma Mashe sums up the deep feeling which animates the Warli people, saying "There are human beings, birds, animals, insects, and so on. Everything moves, day and night. Life is movement".
The Warli, adivasi
, or the indigenous peoples
, speak to us of ancient times and evoke an ancestral culture. An in-depth study of this culture may give further insight into the cultural and religious foundations of modern India
.
Jivya has two sons Sadashiv and Balu and a daughter. His elder son, Sadashiv was born in 1958. Both of his sons are well known exponents of this art form.
at Museum Kunst Palast
in Düsseldorf, Germany, and in 2004 at Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea, Milano, Italy. These were followed by the exhibitions at Shippensburg University, United States in 2006 and at Halle Saint Pierre, Paris (jointly with Nek Chand
) in 2007. In July, 2007 another exhibition of his paintings was held at the Gallery Chemould, Mumbai.
award. In 2009, he was the recipient of the Prince Claus Award for his Warli painting. In 2011, he received the Padma Shri
for his contribution towards Warli painting.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
state in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who popularised the Warli
Warli
The Warlis or are an Indian indigenous people, who live mostly in Dahanu and Talasari talukas of the northern Thane district, parts of Nashik and Dhule districts of Maharashtra, Valsad District of Gujarat, and the union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. They have their own...
tribal art
Tribal art
Tribal art is an umbrella term used to describe visual arts and material culture of indigenous peoples. Also known as Ethnographic art, or, controversially, Primitive Art, tribal arts have historically been collected by Western anthropologists, private collectors, and museums, particularly...
form.
Mashe was born in Dhamangaon village in Talasari
Talasari
Talasari is a city and a municipal council in Thane district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.It is one of the talukas of Thane district where famous Warli art is inhabited.-Geography:Talasari is located at...
taluka of Thane district
Thane District
Thane is a district in northern Maharashtra state in western India. As of 2011 it is the most populated district in the nation. The headquarters of the district is the city of Thane. Other major cities in the district are Navi Mumbai , Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayander, Bhiwandi, Ulhasnagar,...
of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. At the age of 11, he came to Kalambipada village in Dahanu
Dahanu
Dahanu is a coastal city and a municipal council in Thane district in the western state of Maharashtra, India.-The Town:The name "Dahanu Gaon" originates from the word "Dhenu Gram" meaning the village of cows. A lot of cattle, particularly cows were owned by the people in Dahanu. Today, Dahanu...
taluka of Thane district, where he presently lives. In the 1970s the Warli Painting, which was a predominantly ritual art till that time, took a radical turn, when Jivya Mashe started to paint not for any special ritual, but on an everyday basis.
His talent was soon noticed, first nationally (it was rewarded straight from the hand of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
's senior political figures, such as Nehru and Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
) then internationally (Magiciens de la terre
Magiciens de la terre
Magiciens de la Terre was a contemporary art exhibit at the Centre Georges Pompidou and the Grande Halle at the Parc de la Villette in 1989.-Background:...
, Centre Pompidou), bringing unprecedented recognition, which prompted many other young men to follow suit. They started to paint regularly for commercial purposes.
Life
Jivya Soma Mashe has an unusual background. He lost his mother at an early age of 7 and out of shock he stopped speaking for several years, communicated only by drawing pictures in the dust. This strange attitude soon won him a special status within his community.The first government agents sent to preserve and protect Warli Painting were amazed by his artistic abilities. Jivya Soma Mashe showed a heightened sensitivity and unusually powerful imagination, which seem to be the legacy of his early introspective period. Paper and canvas freed him from the constraints of working on rough, sheer walls and he transformed the brusque look of the ephemeral paintings into a free, deeply sensitive style. His sensitivity emerges in every detail of his paintings. Strokes, lines and a mass of dots swarm and vibrate on the canvas, coming together to form clever compositions which reinforce the general impression of vibration. Details and the overall composition both contribute to a sense of life and movement. Recurring themes, from tribal life and Warli legends, are also a pretext for celebrating life and movement.
Jivya Soma Mashe sums up the deep feeling which animates the Warli people, saying "There are human beings, birds, animals, insects, and so on. Everything moves, day and night. Life is movement".
The Warli, adivasi
Adivasi
Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...
, or the indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
, speak to us of ancient times and evoke an ancestral culture. An in-depth study of this culture may give further insight into the cultural and religious foundations of modern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Jivya has two sons Sadashiv and Balu and a daughter. His elder son, Sadashiv was born in 1958. Both of his sons are well known exponents of this art form.
The exhibitions
The first exhibition of Jivya was held at the Gallery Chemould, Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai in 1975 by the initiative of Bhaskar Kulkarni, who first introduced this master to the outside world. His first exhibition outside India was at the Palais de Menton, France in 1976. His next exhibition was at the Pompidou Centre, Paris in 1989. In 2003, he had a joint exhibition with Richard LongRichard Long (artist)
Richard Long is an English sculptor, photographer and painter, one of the best known British land artists. Long is the only artist to be shortlisted for the Turner Prize four times, and he is reputed to have refused the prize in 1984...
at Museum Kunst Palast
Museum kunst palast
The Museum Kunstpalast is an art museum in Düsseldorf, Germany.- History :The Museum Kunst Palast was founded as Kunstmuseum Düsseldorf, a typical communal arts collection in Germany. The first exhibits were given by the popular regent Jan Wellem, Duke of Palatinate, and his wife Anna Maria Luisa...
in Düsseldorf, Germany, and in 2004 at Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea, Milano, Italy. These were followed by the exhibitions at Shippensburg University, United States in 2006 and at Halle Saint Pierre, Paris (jointly with Nek Chand
Nek Chand
Nek Chand Saini is an Indian self-taught artist, famous for building the Rock Garden of Chandigarh, an eighteen acre sculpture garden in the city of Chandigarh, India....
) in 2007. In July, 2007 another exhibition of his paintings was held at the Gallery Chemould, Mumbai.
Awards and honours
In 1976, he received the National Award for the Tribal Art. In 2002, he received the Shilp GuruShilp Guru
Shilp Guru is an award conferred by Government of India every year to the master craftspersons in innovating different styles and designs of the traditional craftsmanship, to continue with the highest level of aesthetic character, quality and skill in the traditional Indian Handicrafts .They were...
award. In 2009, he was the recipient of the Prince Claus Award for his Warli painting. In 2011, he received the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
for his contribution towards Warli painting.