Warli Course

From the Northern Sahayadris in Maharashtra comes the art of the Warli’s, a tribe residing in the lush forests and maintaining harmony with its surroundings. Warli art has deep spiritual and ritualistic as well as social and environmental connections and is intrinsic to the Warli community, The pioneer of Warli art, Shri Jivya Soma Mhase, played a pivotal role in elevating the public's awareness and appreciation for this unique art form. Practicing since the 1970s, Jivya Soma Mhase revolutionised traditional art and went beyond the typical themes and brought about a change which took it to heights. He passed away in 2018, leaving behind his two sons Sadashiv ji and Balu ji and their sons Vijay and Pravin ji to carry forward the legacy and promote Warli art across the globe. Jivya Soma Mhase's elder son, Sadashiv Mhase too, is a well-known Warli artist. Since 1978, he has been practicing his art and conducting workshops across the country and even worldwide. In his initial years he only accompanied his father for events and workshops, which is what developed his interest in painting. He remained a quiet observer for some time and eventually got pulled into the magic of Warli art and its world. His first painting was of just grass and a few animals and then there was no looking back. When Jivya ji saw his work he recognised his skill and suggested that he continue to follow this path. On his fathers advice, Sadashiv ji dived deeper into the world of Warli art and eventually developed his own style. His work is characterised by the use of basic rhythmic shapes to depict the complexity of the world around him. Sadashiv’s younger brother Balu too stepped into his father shoes, learnt and mastered Warli art to become an internationally acclaimed artist who has travelled extensively and taken this Indian art form global. Like their fathers Vijay and Pravin have now taken up the responsibility of keeping the tradition of Warli art alive. Not only are they practicing the art and introducing contemporary styles and themes like their grandfather did, but are also actively teaching and conducting Warli art workshops for the public in an effort to maintain and preserve ritualistic and religious elements of the art. The works of Vijay and Pravin Mhase both carry rhythmic patterns depicting scenes from their villages, legends from their community and religious themes such as the famous Chowk paintings. In spite of showcasing their works across the globe, and teaching thousands about the artforms intricacies, they still maintain the essence of Warli art and its relevance to the community. They showcase abstract themes but do not deviate from the traditional forms and figures and continue using the naturally available and sustainable practices that form the crux of this beautiful Indian art. At Rooftop, we couldn't be more pleased with our association with the Mhase family of Warli master artists. Having their support through Warli art courses, their authentic Warli artworks and contributions in creating the Artventures of Warli, series of Art books, enriches our goal of preserving and making traditional Indian art more accessible to you.