HYUNDAI

A journey through artscapes

Hyundai India set out to create a 2024 calendar that showcased their 12 car models, each brought to life through a different traditional art form. From curating talented artists and overseeing every detail of the execution, to crafting captivating promotional films for each artwork, this project took us on an unforgettable journey through India.

Bhil by Shanta Bhuriya | Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh

The Bhils, native to Western and Central India, are India’s second largest tribal community. Their instantly recognisable art form is characterised by dots and vibrant colours. Having started out as hunters and archers, the theme of their art depicts everything from their lives - people, animals, trees, insects and even various rituals, events and festivities. Originating as ritualistic frescoes for walls and ceilings, Bhil art can now be found across multiple mediums and materials.

Pichwai by Jayesh Sharma | Nathdwara, Rajasthan

Pichwai is a style of painting that originated over 400 years ago in the town of Nathdwara in Rajasthan. The literal meaning of the word is ‘that which hangs from the back’ and is as such designed as wall hangings. Visually stunning, intricate in detail and lush with colours, Pichwai paintings typically depict tales from Lord Krishna’s life. Besides other subjects like Radha, gopis, cows and lotuses, frequently depicted are festivals and celebrations such as Raas Leela and Holi.

Sohrai Painting by Rukmini Devi | Hazaribagh, Jharkhand

Sohrai painting is a form of tribal art that is practised in and around the villages of Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. The art is related to the festival of Sohrai which is celebrated during the months of autumn after Diwali. This art form is passed on from mothers to daughters, with the mother-child bond being one of the key topics covered. It is also known widely for its depiction of creatures, as well as the trademark red and black lines that have come to characterise this art form.

Kerala Mural Painting by Rineesh N. M. | Iringul, Kerala

Kerala Mural Paintings are frescoes that depict Hindu mythology in the ancient temples and palaces across the Indian state of Kerala. It is characterised by the use of six main colours: white, black, yellow, green and red. Having gained popularity between the 9th and 12th centuries when it enjoyed royal patronage, Kerala Mural Paintings went through an extended period of neglect. Post Independence, the art has had a resurgence of sorts. With artists and families reviving the form.

Kalamkari by Sudheer I | Srikalahhasti, Andhra Pradesh

Kalamkari is a textile-based traditional Indian art form that originated in the present-day states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. There are two distinct types of Kalamkari: the ‘Machilipatnam’ style which involves block-printing and the ‘Srikalahasti’ style which involves free hand drawing. The traditional way of creating a Kalamkari artwork involves 23 meticulous steps, involving everything from preparing the fabric, making the natural pigments, to application and fixing of colours.

Gond Art by Durgabai Vyam | Barbaspur, Madhya Pradesh

The Gonds are among central India’s largest indigenous communities. The Pardhan Gonds, a subsect of the Gonds, were responsible for perpetuating the collective memory of virtues, stories of valour of Gond kings in return of royal patronage. The late painter J. Swaminathan discovered the pioneering Gond artist Jangarh Singh Shyam decorating huts of Patangarh in Madhya Pradesh and introduced the fine lines, dots and dashes of Jangarh to the world. Which gives the art form its distinctive look.

Kalighat Painting by Shanuyar Chitrakar | Pingla, West Bengal

Kalighat Painting is a school of painting that originated in the vicinity of the Kalighat Kali Temple in Kolkata, the present capital of the state of West Bengal. The art form had originated as souvenir items for visitors and devotees who came to the Kalighat Kali Temple, where these works often depicted the many gods, goddesses, and scenes from the Indian epics and mythology. As the popularity of this art form spread, scenes from everyday life were brought into the fold as well.

Mughal Miniature Painting by Mahesh Prajapati | Jaipur, Rajasthan

Mughal Miniature is a very distinctive style of painting that emerged from Persian miniatures. Over time, it found the right environment and patronage in the courts of the Mughal Empire, where it blossomed and flourished from the 16th to 18th centuries and later spread to other courts of North India as well. Apart from depicting royal life and scenes from the court, these miniatures also featured other themes and subjects such as battles, hunting scenes, wildlife and mythology.

Madhubani Art by Sarwan Paswan | Madhubani, Bihar

Madhubani art, also known as Mithila art, is a rich tradition of domestic ritual painting that takes its name from the region in northern Bihar where it began and continues to thrive. Historically, women made Madhubani paintings on the freshly plastered walls and floors of mud huts. These skills and techniques were passed down for centuries, preserving Madhubani’s unique qualities and techniques. Today both men and women paint in this style onto cloth, handmade paper and canvas.

Cheriyal Painting by Dhanalakota Vijay Kumar | Hyderabad, Telangana

Cheriyal Painting is a type of scroll painting prevalent in the Southern Indian state of Telangana. These paintings were mostly confined to Cheriyal village, and hence called Cheriyal scrolls. The scrolls often depict themes and stories drawn from ancient literary, mythological and folk traditions that are interspersed with scenes depicting rural life. The costumes, settings and iconography are strongly influenced by local tastes and sensibilities. Allowing for a very distinctive style of story-telling.

Kurumba Painting by Ganesan | Valerikombai, Tamil Nadu

Kurumba painting is one of India’s lesser-known art forms that originated in the Nilgiris. Considered to be at least 3000 years old, it is practised by the Kurumba tribe and is a chronicle of their deities, rituals and way of life in the midst of nature. Working with simple shapes and motifs that are Join us on a journey to Kotagiri geometric in nature, Kurumba paintings stand apart due to their minimal colour palette featuring red, white, black, and green, derived from natural sources like soil, sap, barks and leaves of trees.

Warli Painting by Shantaram Tumbada | Dahanu, Maharashtra

Pioneered by the Warli tribe, located on the outskirts of Mumbai, these paintings use a set of basic geometric shapes: a circle, a triangle, and a square symbolic of different elements of nature. The circle represents the sun and the moon, while the triangle depicts mountains and conical trees. The central motif in each ritual painting is the wedding ceremonial square square, known as the "chauk" or "chaukat“. Starting off as wall paintings, Warli has moved on to paper and canvas in recent times.

Featured Paintings