"Monsoon in Mandu" by Anup Shrivastava

About the artist

I am a resident of Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, Dhar city is unique in many ways. This historical Dhar city of Parmar dynasty art lover Raja Bhoj has been the world center of literature and art since ancient times, it is a historical, cultural city. Surrounded by the Narmada Valley from the south and the Malwa Plateau from the north, Dhar city is known prominently for palaces of Mandu, Pandava period Bagh cave, Bagh print, dinosaur fossils and tribal zone. The Adivasis, who are said to be the original inhabitants of the country of India, have the largest population in Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh. I have seen the life story of their main community Bhil, Bhilala, their customs, Teej-festivals like Bhagoriya, Gal ritual, Mela, Haat Bazar since childhood which is an integral part of tribal society. I was born in Dhar itself and did my primary art education from Dhar, while doing BFA (painting) thousands of paintings were done by me due to which the image of Dhar deepened in my mind. Since college days, I got attracted towards the cultural life of tribals and started painting their life celebrations, after that I completed MFA from Indore College of Art in the year - 2010. The deep image of my area could not be erased from my mind and I thought it appropriate to work in my own area without moving to any big city, I am an independent painter, since college I have been searching for something new in the paintings made in my style. In this journey, I have participated in many national and international art exhibitions, art camps which expanded my art practice and vision.