Major Retrospective Celebrates Padma Shri Jodhaiya Bai Baiga's Indigenous Art Legacy
A significant retrospective exhibition honoring the life and artistic contributions of Padma Shri awardee Jodhaiya Bai Baiga is poised to illuminate the world of one of India's most important indigenous artists. Presented by Ojas Art, this exhibition brings together more than fifty of her remarkable works, offering a deep dive into her unique visual language.
Curated Journey Through Cultural Memory and Spirituality
Curated by esteemed art historian Minhazz Majumdar, the exhibition titled Bloom at Dusk meticulously traces the extraordinary artistic journey of Jodhaiya Bai Baiga. Remarkably, she began painting only in her late sixties, yet developed a powerful and distinctive visual style deeply rooted in cultural memory, spiritual beliefs, and the lush forests of central India.
From Forest Labourer to Acclaimed Artist
Born in 1937 in the forested Umaria region of Madhya Pradesh, Jodhaiya Bai spent much of her early life working as a labourer and gathering forest produce to support her family. Her entry into the art world came later, following the establishment of an arts centre near her village by artist Ashish Swami. There, she initially experimented with mediums like clay, gourds, and papier mâché before transitioning to acrylic painting on paper and canvas.
This late start led to an incredible outpouring of luminous, symbol-rich artworks that transformed her lived experiences into vivid, mythic landscapes. Her paintings serve as a profound narrative of resilience and creativity.
Artworks Rooted in Baiga Cosmology and Ecology
The exhibition showcases paintings that draw deeply from Baiga cosmology and extensive ecological knowledge. These works are populated by divine figures, ancestral spirits, ritual dancers, and various forest animals, creating a rich tapestry of indigenous life and belief.
Recurring motifs throughout her oeuvre include the sacred mahua tree, Lord Bholenath, and Baghesur, the tiger god. These elements reflect the artist's intimate and sacred relationship with nature and her community's spiritual belief systems.
Addressing Contemporary Environmental Concerns
Alongside celebratory and spiritual imagery, Jodhaiya Bai Baiga also used her art to address pressing environmental concerns. Notably, several works respond to forest fires and ecological degradation, offering a contemporary and urgent voice grounded in indigenous wisdom and a deep connection to the land.
National Recognition and International Acclaim
Baiga's immense contribution to Indian art has been formally recognized with prestigious national awards. She received the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2022 and the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, in 2023.
Her work has also reached international audiences, with exhibitions in major global cities like Milan and Paris. These showcases have introduced the world to the visual traditions and lived realities of the Baiga community, elevating indigenous Indian art on the global stage.
Curator and Director Insights on the Retrospective
Curator Minhazz Majumdar has eloquently described Baiga's paintings as a transformative process where memory is converted into living color, embodying both resilience and ancestral knowledge. Anubhav Nath, Director of Ojas Art, emphasized that this retrospective marks her first major solo exhibition on such a significant scale, calling it a long-overdue recognition of her enduring artistic legacy.
A Comprehensive Look at a Transformative Artist
Presented in association with the Ashish Swami Centre for Arts and the Ramchander Nath Foundation, this exhibition offers a comprehensive and immersive look at an artist whose creative flowering later in life has fundamentally reshaped the understanding of contemporary indigenous art in India. It stands as a testament to the power of late-blooming talent and the rich cultural heritage of India's tribal communities.
