Indigenous Australian culture dates back over 60,000 years, marking the arrival of the aboriginal people. Their art is deeply rooted in a spiritual connection to the land, which is more than just a physical space—it is a sacred entity embodying creation stories, ancestral journeys, and ancient wisdom. This profound bond between land, people, and their narratives is expressed through various forms of art. Indigenous Australian art includes rock paintings, dot paintings, rock engravings, bark paintings, carvings, sculptures, weaving, and string art. Some of the oldest rock art sites, dating back over 40,000 years, offer invaluable insights into the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous communities.

Jhoti Chita is a traditional Odia art form, deeply rooted in rural culture. While it may resemble rangoli, it stands out with its unique use of a white colour, semi-liquid paste made from rice, known as pithau, instead of the colourful powders used in rangoli. This art is often created on both walls and floors, playing a significant role in festivals such as Lakshmi Puja, Durga Puja, and Kaartika, as well as during weddings and other social occasions.

When Europeans first established a foothold in India, they were keen on acquiring the subcontinent’s wealth and understanding its rich culture. Once they secured dominance, a remarkable blend emerged between British academic drawing and Mughal, as well as Indic, artistic traditions. Historian William Dalrymple explores this fusion in hybrid paintings that capture life and nature. The Wallace Collection in London hosted an exhibition titled Forgotten Masters: Indian Painting for the East India Company, focusing on works from 1770 to 1840. It is the first British exhibition dedicated to Indian artists, which was commissioned by British patrons and linked to the East India Company. These artists fall under the category known as ‘Company Painting’, as defined by art historians and curators.

Art from this civilisation, including sculptures, seals, pottery, jewellery, and terracotta figures, reflects the rich cultural heritage of the era. Emerging in the second half of the third millennium BCE, these works reveal the artists’ fine artistic sensibility and vivid imagination. The detailed depictions of humans and animals were highly realistic, offering a glimpse into their culture—what they wore, their facial features, and the animals they interacted with. Beyond art, the civilisation’s urban planning, especially the intricate drainage system, highlights their critical thinking and attention to detail. This indicates that their art wasn’t created for mere entertainment but held deeper cultural and intellectual significance.

India’s tribal art holds a rich and fascinating history. These unique art forms are deeply rooted in tribal culture, each telling captivating stories passed down through generations. From Bhil art in Chhattisgarh to Gond art in Odisha. Warli art of Maharashtra, and in Gujarat, the Rathwa and Bhilala tribes are known for their Pithora paintings and many other tribal arts. While these art forms diminished over time, many have been preserved in museums across different states, keeping their legacy alive.

The word Toran originally referred to sacred gateways in Indian architecture, with roots in both Buddhism and Hinduism. A notable example is the Kirti Toran, a 12th-century sandstone architecture in Vadnagar, Gujarat. Over time, the tradition evolved, particularly among the Gujarati community, where handmade torans are hung above doorways as a symbol of welcome. These decorative pieces represent love, prosperity, health, luck, happiness, and wealth. In the Vedic period, torans were crafted from mango leaves and marigold flowers, often used during auspicious occasions. Today, they continue to hold deep cultural significance, playing an essential role in various celebrations and rituals.

These paintings were popular in Jharkhand’s Dumka district, the sacred home of Jadopatua. The word ‘Jadopatua’ means ‘magic painters.’ This art form is generally practiced by the Santhals, the third-largest tribe in India. Some sources believe that the word ‘Jado’ in Santhali, meaning artist, gives rise to the name. Jadopatua paintings are vertical scrolls originally created on cloth, but they are now also made on paper. These paintings often depict stories about the origins of life, life after death, Hindu mythology, history, and tribal life, including rituals and festivals. This unique art form uses natural pigments derived from stones, leaves, flowers, and tree bark, all intricately applied to scrolls of varying lengths.

Nestled along the coastal stretch of Injambakkam, near Chennai, the Cholamandal Artists’ Village is a hub of modern Indian art. Established in 1966 by visionary artist KCS Paniker, this village was designed to create a space where artists could live and work communally while sustaining themselves through their craft. It emerged from the Madras Art Movement of the 1960s, which aimed to cultivate a unique artistic identity for South India. The village takes its name from the Chola dynasty (9th-13th century CE), known for its rich cultural patronage. Alongside Paniker, other key contributors to this thriving artistic community include V. Viswanathan, P. Gopinath, P.S. Nandan, K.S. Gopal, and many more.