Moving figures

The Warli tribal community lives in the Thane district of Maharashtra, and has a painting tradition that dates back several centuries.

Originally painted on the walls of their huts with cow dung, mud and rice paste, Warli paintings are now created on paper, cloth and canvas, and widely recognised for their spare colours, geometric forms and figures, and economy of detail. The most significant element in their art is rhythm.

The collection, Rhytm and Ritual II, is up for sale till next month. In all Warli paintings, two inverted triangles placed one on top of the other represent bodies, whether of human beings or animals. By simply altering the alignment of the two triangles, the figures are given movement.