Featured women artists

Thirty one year old Mamoni learnt Pat painting from her mother and began when she was only 7. Mamoni’s life revolves around Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The fact that she is Muslim does not interfere with her passion. Mamoni has been associated with FroggMag for many years now. The folk-art world is dominated mostly by men. In exhibitions its usually the men who are in the forefront, the wives are seen quietly “filling and finishing” somewhere in the background. It was thus - quite a pleasant surprise to see young Mamoni incharge of her stall in a big city bazar. Mamoni and her art are both exceptional and are today an integral part of FroggMag.

Chandrakali, comes from Patangarh, a village in the Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh, India. She belongs to the Gond tribe. Chandrakali studied till class 5 and was married off at sixteen. Her husband, Uday Singh Pusham, spent most of his time in the city as a commissioned Gond artist. Chandrakali stayed behind with her in-laws to raise their two children in the village. Food came from an acre of land they own and the little money Uday sent. In 2009 Uday died. With Uday’s untimely death, the entire responsibility of raising their 8-year old daughter and 4-year old son fell precipitously on Chandrakali. There was little time for grieving. With her family depending on her and her late husband’s paintings as inspiration, she soon took up the brush and has been painting ever since. The results speak for themselves.