The exhibition features the remarkable works of Mayank Kumar Shyam, an esteemed artist from the Gond Pardhan community in Madhya Pradesh.

Mayank Shyam’s creations invite visitors to engage with his vibrant and enchanting works that draw inspiration from the cultural stories of the Gond-Pardhan community. Through his art, Shyam reimagines and animates these cherished narratives that have been an integral part of his upbringing. His most recent works are illuminated by a profound story, where a bird’s benevolence towards a tree leads to a harmonious coexistence, blessed by the gods themselves. These stories, deeply rooted in the performative traditions of the Pardhan community, are skillfully transformed by Shyam into contemporary visual expressions, a marriage of tradition and innovation.

The exhibition derives its name, ‘The Arboreal Haven,’ from the narrative’s heartwarming account of the relationship between the bird and the tree. Just as the tree flourished and bore fruits due to the bird’s compassion, this exhibit seeks to nourish the tradition of storytelling while celebrating the artistic journey that has transformed these tales into mesmerizing visual art forms.