‘Indian Jungle’ Gond Tribal Art Exhibition by Sunny Sandhu

An exhibition inspired by nature and its vital forces.

Indian Jungle is an exhibition of Gond Tribal Art from Madhya Pradesh in Central India.

The word “Gond” means “mountain.” For centuries, the Gond people have lived in harmony with nature, preserving pictorial representations of the world around them. What once existed on village walls has gradually moved onto canvas, allowing this ancient art form to travel across the world.

Sunny Sandhu, founder of Atelier OM and Galerie Beddington, with the support of the Mairie de Grimaud, brings Indian Jungle to life in the beautiful village of Grimaud.

The exhibition presents works by Santosh Marawi, Rajendra Kumar, Chitrakant Shyam, and Chandni Urveti. All of them live in beautiful villages of Madhya Pradesh near forests and the sacred Narmada River. Here, the jungle itself is the temple, and animals are revered as gods.

The exhibition explores the relationship between humans and the forest. Over time, the painting traditions are also evolving — animals are increasingly becoming political and symbolic figures reflecting the contemporary world.

Organised by the Culture and Heritage Department.