Ojas Art Gallery, Delhi constituted its Ojas Art Awards in 2015 to celebrate excellence in contemporary Indian indigenous arts by honoring both Master artists, who have preserved and advanced traditional art forms, and Protégé artists, emerging talents who bring fresh perspectives to these traditions.
In 2019, the awards spotlighted Warli art, a traditional form of tribal art from Maharashtra known for its distinctive geometric patterns and depictions of daily life and nature. The Master Artist award was conferred upon Rajesh Chaitya Vangad, a renowned Warli artist dedicated to preserving the authenticity of this art form. The Protégé Artist award was given to the Vayeda Brothers, Tushar and Mayur, who have been instrumental in contemporizing Warli art by integrating modern themes and narratives, thereby expanding its relevance and appeal to newer audiences.
Faandee worked with the gallery team in personally visiting each artist and reviewing the paintings of several Warli indigenous artists at Dahanu. We documented their various factors practices and compiled it as the primary data for the jury.
