Indigenous Gond Art in Art Therapy: A Nature-Based Creative Process

Abstract

There is a growing interest in understanding the connection between Indigenous art, nature, and art therapy, however information on the health implications of Indian Indigenous art practices is scarce. This case study highlights the application of nature-based Indian Indigenous art form Gond and explores its therapeutic potential in art therapy. A workshop was organized, combining nature-based guided imagery visualization with Gond folktale narration, followed by Gond-inspired artmaking using natural pigments and repetitive patterns. Workshop participants’ responses indicated that this approach fostered engagement, intense concentration, present moment awareness, a relaxed meditative state, and personal expression. Sensitively adapting Indigenous knowledge, like Gond practices, can promote awareness about interconnectedness with nature, artmaking, and storytelling, offering therapeutic benefits for self-care in art therapy.

Keywords:

• Indigenous art
• art therapy
• Gond
• folktale
• nature
• natural pigments

Acknowledgments

We thank Gond artist Bhajju Shyam for generously sharing his artistic journey and insights in adapting Gond art and folktale for the therapeutic purpose of this study.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ritu Dua

Ritu Dua is an artist and art therapist affiliated with the Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, Pune, Maharashtra, India.

Bani Malhotra

Bani Malhotra, PhD, ATR-BC, is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Virginia Commonwealth University and a visiting faculty at the MIT School of Fine Arts and Applied Arts Art Therapy Program in Pune.

Patricia A. St. John Tager

Patricia A. St. John Tager is Professor Emerita, The College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, and adjunct professor at Springfield College, Springfield, MA.