Tree matters

The Bhil people of Central India are amongst the oldest indigenous communities in India. To them, the natural world -- of trees, creatures that inhabit them, and the forest of which they are a part -- is not 'out there', but rather exists in a seamless relationship to their home and the everyday.

Gangubai, Bhil artist, explores this relationship through her memories of food, work, festivals, illness, medicine, and much more. Her tales center around trees, and so each of her memories has a tree as its focus. Illustrated in vivid and cheerful colors, the paintings in this book foreground a universe of brightly colored dots, and lines and shapes that encompass and hold all living creatures, including human beings.

"People know edible leaves from poisonous ones. Children who graze cattle or goats in the forest eat these buds and fruits as snacks. They climb up the tree and pluck them, with the animals grazing below. How did people first begin to eat these leaves? The shamans are said to be the first people who ate them. Children watch their parents, and they know what is good to eat." -- from the book Excerpted from Tree Matters All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.