Jivya Shoma Mashe (1931-2018)

Jivya Soma Mashe (1931-2018) transformed the ritual art of the Warli people of India into a relevant contemporary expression that elaborates their original vision on the rapport between nature and culture. The Warli philosophy embodied in Mashe's paintings emphasises the interconnectedness of human beings and nature. Jivya Soma Mashe creatively reinvented an art vocabulary that was disappearing, vividly represented the Warli vision of nature and culture in equilibrium, highlighted the contemporary relevance of local forms of knowledge, and significantly contributed to the culture and development of the tribal peoples.

Mashe leaves behind three children, two of whom are Warli artists who are carrying on his legacy.