The Pithora art painting exhibition evoked a wonderful response by the art of lovers of the city. The exhibition concluded here on Wednesday at Hindi Bhavan.

The exhibition was all about colourful and beautiful Pithora art. As many as 200 paintings created by 200 participants of Pithora Art Workshop were put on display at Hindi Bhavan. It is to be noted that a five-day Pithora Art painting workshop was organized at Hindi Bhavan by expert Mahesh Nema.

The tribals live with their tradition and define it in their creativity. Pithora is a highly ritualistic painting done on the walls by several tribes such as the Rathwas and Bhilalas who live in the central Gujarat, in a village called Tejgadh. In several other villages around Tejgadh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhota Udaipur district, lives a large population of these tribes where Pithora paintings are found on three inner walls of the house.

These paintings have significance in their lives and executing the Pithora paintings in their homes brings peace, prosperity and happiness. What is even more interesting is that there is never an attempt to imitate nature. A horse or a bull, which might be a vision of a God, impresses him with only one central quality. This central quality is worked upon and given a form. It might be crude but it is this crudity that adds to the beauty of this painting.

All the paintings have distinctive features portraying the scenes, birds, animals and human faces on dark and vibrant colours. The paintings have brown or black base. The fine lines and geometrical figures painted in red, blue and white acrylic and oil colours make them look more appealing to the eyes.

The spectators could witness the traditional folk art of different tribes under one roof. The exhibition is like a treat for the artists as well as the art lovers.