Wall Mural Art x Azim premji University Bangalore

Project description

THE WIDSOM OF HONEY GATHERS Digital art on canvas I 7 FT X 4 FT Tanickens, Kurumbas, Sholigas, and irulas are the primary honey-hunting tribes. Their ancient culture teaches sustainability, revering bees and praying before honey-gathering ventures. Renowned for its unique flavor and medicinal properties, wild honey is a prized find that is also very difficult to source Wild bees make honeycombs on high, rocky cliffs, requiring honey hunters to use ropes, ladders, and traditional methods for extraction. It is risky work, which involves navigating heights, braving bee stings, and warding off wildlife threats. Traditionally, tribes hunt for honey on cliffs, tall trees, tree cavities, and underground hives. studying nature's cues for optimal harvesting. The Kurumba tribes wait six months to ensure larval survival and mature honey with lower water content. They refrain from destructive methods, instead using forest herbs to smoke out bees and gathering only what's needed, leaving ample for bee colonies. Challenges like deforestation, climate change, and government regulations strain these communities honey collection efforts, threatening their traditional practices. Noufal Kuttipencil, a visual artist and graphic designer in Bengaluru, goes by the alias "Kuttipencil" on Instagram and creates exceptional art, humorous, and thought-provoking. inspired by Malayali comedians and south Indian films. This artwork depicts the honey hunters of Nilgiris, their habitat, attire, and the process of honey gathering with a palette inspired by the colour of honey.