Gangaram Vyam was born in Sanpuri, a village in the deep forest of Amrkantak, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Gangaram, presently in his mid-thirties, does not remember his date of birth. He started painting during his teenage years when people of his village, recognizing his skill in drawing, invited him to paint on the auspicious occasions of marriage, childbirth and other ritual or festive events. He gradually mastered the pictorial depiction of mythological stories of the Gond tribe and the day-to-day scenery of nature and social surroundings. In his work one can easily experience the harmonious metamorphosis of human tales of friendship and love, and creation myths of gods turning into animals or mythical animal-like forms. His use of caudal fins in his forms shows an interesting aspect of his imagination. The positioning of his figures gives lightness to his composition and reveals a slow drifting or movement. Gangaram’s use of Rotring ink pens and subdued colors shows his patient contemplative method of drawing.
