Important Notice

Untitled
Acrylic on canvas
60 x 33 in (152.1 x 83.6 cm)


Shanti Bai is considered a master godhana artist, and was born in Dindori in Madhya Pradesh, in 1963. She was trained by her aunt to carry her legacy forward. Since tattooing has become less prevalent in the Baiga community over time, a localcultural agency encouraged Shanti Bai to recreate her tattoos on paper and canvas. Her designs, characterised by their elaborate geometric patterns, attracted interest and brought godhana art into a contemporary space. Her daughter, Mangla BaiMarawi continues the tradition by painting on canvas, which has provided a new medium and audience to keep the art alive.

TATTOO ART

The practice of tattoo art is an essential custom among the Baiga tribe of Madhya Pradesh. Theybelieve that when Lord Brahma created the human body, he divided it into a feminine principle, represented by flesh and blood, and a masculine principle, represented by the bones. Tattooing the body was believed to unify these two principles, and soboth men and women decorate their bodies in ink. It is often seen as a rite of passage for young Baigas when they are initiated into adulthood. "The symbols from which a tattoo is composed have semiotic value and represent aspects of nature integralto the Baiga way of life. These symbols differ within the various sub-divisions of the Baiga community. Apart from being part of their bodily decoration, these tattoos inscribe and differentiate various groups within the Baigas." (Olympia Bhatt, "Shanti Bai," Annapura Garimella ed., Vernacular, in the Contemporary 2, New Delhi: Devi Art Foundation, 2011, p. 1)

Tattooing is called godhana, and is a traditional art handed down through generations. The artists, often women, earn their livelihood from it. The original technique of godhana on skin, involves marking the body with a mixture of black soot scraped from the flame of a lamp, and sesame seed oil. The design is then pierced into the skin, creating a permanent tattoo. The designs are varied and precise, as the tradition is rooted in contextual symbolism and meaning. According to godhana artist Shanti Bai, "Women from Baiga tribal community attach great importance to godhana because they see it like 'amar gehna' (ornaments for posterity). We recite mantras before we start the process and every design created on a particular part of the body has a specific name - 'dhandani' on legs, 'pichadi' on the back, 'pukda', 'pori' etc..." (artist quotedin Shailaja Tripathi, "New Voices", The Hindu, 1 April 2011, online)

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