Bhil “Tree of Life” Painting

Bhil painting is a traditional art form from the Bhil community of Madhya Pradesh in India (and neighboring states) characterized by its connection to nature and mythology. This art style features distinctive dot patterns and earthy colors. Traditionally made on walls using natural materials, the art form now uses contemporary materials like canvas and acrylics while retaining its symbolic motifs of animals, deities, and daily life. This item was donated to us by our own Co-Artistic Director, Dipankar Mukherjee– who has been bringing in incredible gifts (just like this!) to our Silent Auction since its inception, and this year is no exception. Bid today to bring this piece of cultural beauty home with you! About the Donor: Dipankar Mukherjee is a professional director originally from Calcutta, India with a 25-year history of directing. He is the Artistic Director of Pangea World Theater and received the 2023 McKnight Distinguished Artist Award. He co-founded Pangea World Theater, an international theater in Minneapolis that is a progressive space for arts and dialogue. His aesthetics have evolved through his commitment to social justice, equity and deep spirituality and these factors along with relevant politics form the basis of his work. As a director, he has worked in India, England, Canada and the United States. Dipankar has received the Humphrey Institute Fellowship to Salzburg and has been a Ford Foundation delegate to India and Lebanon. He is a recent recipient of the Bush Leadership Fellowship award to study non-violence and peace methodologies in India and South Africa. Dipankar was invited to visit the White House as part of the Asian American and Pacific Islanders Delegation. In his rehearsal and workshop practices, Dipankar’s facilitated processes that work to disrupt colonial, racist and patriarchal modalities that we have inherited and collaboratively searches for an alternate way of working.