Between Memory and Museum ─ A Dialogue With Folk and Indigenous Artists

India is home to a range of folk and tribal artists, from rich and varied cultural backgrounds. Much of what we learn about these communities who often exist on the margins of mainstream society is through their representation in a museum. It is a space that constructs identities in very particular ways. This pioneering dialogue with 38 extraordinary folk and tribal artists from across India focuses on the idea of a museum particularly for communities historically regarded as anthropological subjects. In their visual responses, artists reflect on the museum as an institution, and the way it preserves, creates and disseminates knowledge. Do these representations communicate a lived life? What are the artists’ own ways of remembering and passing on tradition? And finally: who has the power to put whom in a museum?

Gita Wolf was born in Calcutta but educated in different cities in India, including New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. She received her Masters degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Erlangen/Nuerenberg, Germany. In 1994, she started Tara Books, as an independent publishing house based in India. Beginning with The Very Hungry Lion in 1995, she has written over 20 books for children and adults. Several have won major international awards and been translated into multiple languages. Her book, Do! was honoured with the prestigious BolognaRagazzi New Horizons award. Another title, Gobble You Up went on to win the Aesop award.

Arun Wolf is a young film-maker from Chennai, India and has been associated with Tara for several years - he assists with visual documentation and is involved in producing book-related shorts and themed documentaries for Tara Books.

The various artists featured in this book include several award-winners and men and women of extraordinary talent, including Bhajju Shyam, Durga Bai, Jagdish Chitara and Bhaddu Hamir. Each of these artists has exhibited in India and elsewhere, being featured in exhibitions of outsider and folk art from India.