Gond artists win Ojas Art Award; to showcase at Jaipur Litfest

Three artists, who work with the tribal art form of Gond, have been selected to display their artworks at the upcoming mega literature festival in Jaipur.
The trio -- Bhajju Shyam, Venkat Raman Singh Shyam and Roshni Vyam -- have been picked as the winners of the inaugural Ojas Art Award recently.
The award has been coorganised by Delhi-based art body Ojas Art with Teamwork Arts, which produces the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival.
Noted Gond artist Bhajju Shyam, who has previously exhibited at the Museum of London and toured UK, Germany, Holland, Italy and Russia, bagged the first prize which comprises a cash award of Rs 51,000.

His best-known work, "The London Jungle Book" is a visual travelogue of the 43-old artist visit to London in 2002, where he painted the interior of an up-market Indian restaurant.
The book, published by Tara Books and the Museum of London, was released in November 2004, along with a three-month exhibition at the Museum.

Born in the Gond tribal village of Patangarh, Bhajju travelled to Bhopal as a 16-year-old where he became apprentice to Jangarh Singh Shyam. In 2001, he received a state award for Best Indigenous Artist.
"I am very happy to be the winner. In the long run, this will prove to be beneficial for the entire Gond artist community," Bhajju said in a statement.

Artist Venkat Raman Singh Shyam, whose works are part of collections worldwide, bagged the second prize compirising a cash prize of Rs 31,000.