This rustic wooden wall art is actually part of Gond Art started by the Gond Tribe in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and eventually spread to Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The word ‘gond’ has been derived from ‘kond’ which means green mountain - an object of reverence and pantheism practised by Indian tribal folk. Legend has it that Gond Art dates back to more than 1400 years ago when the tribes carved art on the walls of caves belonging to the Mesolithic Period. The Gonds believe that when one looks at good positive images, it brings good fortune. This is why they traditionally painted motifs, tattoos and images on the walls of the caves, eventually evolving to the floors and walls of their houses. One of the most interesting things about this art is its purpose: the tribes wish to pass on historical knowledge and teachings to the next generations. They believe that every element of nature such as fire, earth, sky etc is inhabited by a spirit. Therefore, creating art, for them, is a process of reverence - something that’s quite visible in their wall arts particularly. These paintings serve as an evidence of a close connection between the Gonds and the spirit of nature. Apart from painting the five elements of nature, Gonds also love to paint legends and myths from around India, and now contemporary Gond artists are painting issues affecting the tribes in modern India. Their abstract paintings are particularly special as they incorporate emotions, dreams and imaginative constructs.