The tiger narrative -Sangeetha Devi Dundoo, THE HINDU

Earlier this month, forest department officials photographed a tiger in the vicinity of Mahisagar. This spotting of the big cat in Gujarat after nearly three decades is reason to cheer. Meanwhile, consistent efforts towards tiger conservation has shown results (see infobox). However, conservationists are aware of the continuing threat from intrusion into habitats, declining forest cover, and poaching. Several measures are aligned towards facing newer challenges in tiger conservation and raise funds where required.

This weekend, Hyderabad will witness the opening of ‘Tiger’, curated by artist Fawad Tamkanat, which brings together works of 80 artists. ‘Tiger’ will showcase masks painted by emerging and established artists, projecting their interpretations on the importance and relevance of the majestic cats.

“I’ve been working towards this show for two years,” Fawad tells us. He recalls having always been an animal lover, tending to cats and placing water bowls for birds in his growing years. Curating a show that combines his twin interests, art and animals, was a natural progression. “We’ve grown up listening to grandmother’s stories about tigers and lions ruling the jungles, isn’t it? Tigers have been portrayed by artists since the time of Indus valley and Mesopotamian civilisations,” he adds.

Tiger conservation

The proceeds from the sale of masks exhibited as part of ‘Tiger’ will go to WWF-India (World Wide Fund for nature). The contributions will be used to buy cameras to monitor the movement of tigers and issues pertaining to their natural habits, and set up solar fencing in areas close to human settlement. “I didn’t want to curate a show that would be just another collaborative display of paintings and sculptures. It had to be thematically different,” says Fawad, who initially got two masks, in different sizes, made by a Kolkata-based sculptor. Pleased with the result, he got several more made. At that time, he didn’t have a sponsor and mentions having forked out sums personally: “I don’t begin a show looking for a sponsor.”

Fawad reached out to fellow artists, both established and emerging names, and asked them to paint the fibre glass masks in the tiger theme. “There were no hard and fast rules; I wanted to see how they narrate stories on three-dimensional masks. A few artists depicted landscapes and habitats of the tigers, their cultural significance, and there were also mythological narratives,” says Fawad. He mentions how artists across the world have celebrated the tiger through their work. Fellow artist Palak Dubey, in her note, shines light on tigers being represented in Indian mythology, Buddhist stories, calligraphy, Mughal miniatures, Gond and Warli paintings.

Once the masks were artistically painted, Fawad worked towards this exhibition.

Mumbai-based Sapna Kar, an art patron and marketing advisor who’s worked with Fawad for over a decade, informs that WWF India came aboard as partner in this art-meets-philantropy initiative: “I chanced upon some of these masks at Fawad’s studio during a visit to Hyderabad, I felt we needed to do something to support the cause of tigers. We are in talks to take ‘Tigers’ to other cities too.”

The art masks will be of 16 and 19 inches and priced from ₹90,000 to 1,20,000. A limited edition coffee table book will also be unveiled.

‘Tigers’ opens at State Gallery of Art, Madhapur, Hyderabad, on February 23 and will be on view till March 1.