Our Story
The grand narrative of a nation is best perceived through its cultural and artistic expression. Even more so for a civilization like ours, whose beginnings are hidden in a time beyond history. The study of art could become a peephole into its very essence. Moreover, ours is a living tradition, hence a different strategy is needed to preserve and sustain this rich and diverse heritage of ours. It has to evolve, keeping in mind the needs of the modern age. Needless to say that if we want to sustain our heritage, our art, the artists needs to be sustained too, in terms of their economic as well as creative growth.
Devrai Art Village (DAV) is doing precisely this. It all started with a dream of Mandakini Mathur, a filmmaker, teacher, writer, and poet. Under her stewardship, what began as a safe space for just 3 artisans from Naxalite-affected Gadchiroli and Chhattisgarh has grown into a thriving community of 35 artisans, artists, and designers from across the country.
Located in the hills of Panchgani (Maharashtra), we are a self-sustaining NGO, and we have been working since 2008 to create a bridge between tribal artisans, mainstream artists/designers, and contemporary audiences. Our patented technique, Rock Dhokra (a fusion of stone and metal), is an internationally recognized innovation that embodies India’s ability to reinvent while staying rooted.
Our workshop and gallery are spread across a two acre forest garden, which was a barren slope of land two decades ago, and has been resurrected into a biodiversity-rich, lush green space.
What do we do?
We have now evolved into an Art Innovation Center, where we take it as our mission to sustain our traditional arts through innovation – of the content as well as the form. The stories we tell through the medium must change with evolving times, and so must the medium to keep the art form vibrant and alive.
To this end, we have a string of breakthrough products to our credit. Rock Dhokra (patented) is the first time ever fusion of metal with stone. Organic Casting is another unique process of casting natural materials such as leaves, bark, and fruit directly into metal. In this way, we are able to replicate the intricate patterns and textures in nature which no human hand can make! Even the themes and narratives evolve. Shiva’s Nandi, sitting meditatively for thousands of years, now gets up and dances with his Lord. Our design approach is informed by our rich cultural and natural heritage as well as by trends in modern art.
To sustain any traditional art form, technical intervention must go hand-in-hand with thematic innovation. The inspiring themes must be relevant to the current time. At Devrai, we use art as a way to commune with silent nature, and truly become a part of the wider web of life that constitutes our ecosystem. Another significant source of inspiration for our work is the exploration and interpretation of our Indic cultural ethos and its relevance in today’s world. Our cultural heritage is intrinsically tied with our natural heritage, and when we talk of Indic renaissance through art, both these interwoven wells of knowledge become our subjects for exploration and expression.
We see Devrai Art Village as a space where innovative creative expression of indigenous arts sustains both – the art and the artist. And in doing so, we have created a space where the ancient meets the contemporary; traditional artisans and mainstream artists/designers work together, nurturing their own skills, thus bridging the gaps between art, craft, and design.
Art lends itself as a means to various ends — it is a way to teach, to introspect, to have difficult conversations, to access your own creativity, and to imagine the unimaginable. At Devrai, our activities cover a wide range of these possibilities:
1. Workshops: Our art workshops are open to all — where people outside the art world can discover their creativity and take a slow, meaningful pause from today’s busy life.
2. Interface with the education system: The confluence of art, nature and culture at Devrai offers a great learning experience to students of all ages, often coming in large groups. We even have customised group workshops that are great for honing 21st century skills – like collaboration, communication, entrepreneurship and environmental awareness – through art experience.
3. Various types of arts: We began with the spatial arts — sculptures, paintings, and items of utility — but have since expanded into storytelling arts such as puppetry. Our Chairperson is also a writer, poet and filmmaker, with extensive experience in using storytelling as a methodology for teaching. Many of our artists explore other art forms — music, dance, writing, and more — as hobbies, the influence of which is reflected in the work we create together as a team.
4. Collaboration with artists: We host artists from all over the world for residencies, creating a mutually enriching exchange of ideas and skills. Over time, we’ve become a bridge between artists from remote parts of India and the wider world — enabling both sides to learn from each other, while overcoming challenges such as language barriers and cultural differences with ease.
5. Exploration of themes: While we draw inspiration from two major themes — Exploring Indic Civilisational Roots and Communing with Nature — our work is by no means limited to them. Each artist is free to choose their own source of inspiration, which they explore and translate into their art in a distinctive way. Art, for us, also becomes a powerful medium to engage with complex or even controversial ideas with openness and curiosity.
6. Stay: We have a constant inflow of people — resident artists, interns, and homestay guests — creating a bustling environment that constantly sparks new ideas for our team. It’s also a wonderful way to share our work with a wider audience around the world.
All of us who work at Devrai are contributing in our own ways to make this a place where art – in all its forms – can thrive and be appreciated.
The Devrai Community
Hear from our Artists...
Historically, art has thrived under royal patronage, but at Devrai we’ve reimagined the career opportunities for artists – which were earlier limited to freelancing and teaching – by creating a model where they can be employed. The individual artist here takes off from the collective consciousness of a civilisation that synthesises Nature and Culture into an organic whole, and the artist is given freedom to express creativity through a personal lens making use of the new techniques that have evolved here. Here are some short messages from individual members of our team:
Durga Pardeshi (since 2020)
Master’s in Fine Arts from JJ School of Art, Mumbai
Ila Sawadkar (since 2021)
Master’s in Fine Arts from JJ School of Art, Mumbai
They often say an artist should be like a child, curious and fearless. yet few speak about the need for a playground where this spirit can truly exist. Devrai is one such place. Like a child’s backyard in summertime, it is a space full of inspirations, a space to experiment, learn by doing, and create with joy.
Devrai is not just a space, but a living community where humans and nature coexist, flowing into art and inspiring the artist.
Chandrakant Halyal (since )
Master’s in Fine Arts from JJ School of Art, Mumbai
Chandrashekhar Manjare (since 2025)
Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from JJ School of Art, Mumbai
Subhashchandra Bongale (since 2024)
Art Master; Govt Diploma in Painting and Sculpting; expert in paper craft
Priyansh Kashyap (since 2022)
Traditional Dhokra artist from Chhatissgarh
Namita Kashyap (since 2022)
Traditional Dhokra artist from Odisa
Namita Kashyap (since 2022)
Wood craftsman from Chhattisgarh
Mansi Aggarwal (since 2024)
Bachelor’s in Design from MITID, Pune
Binita Dhuniyal (since 2021)
Weaving, crochet, textile, and natural greeting cards artist
यहाँ पर हर दिन कुछ नया सीखने को मिलता है। टीचर के नए ideas से हमें काम करने में संतुष्टि मिलती है। हर प्रकार के लोगों से मिलने से हमें अपने काम को बताने का मौका मिलता है, और लोग हमारे काम को शाबाशी देते हैं। अब Devrai मेरे मन के बहुत करीब है।
Here, we get to learn something new everyday. We get new ideas from Mandakini teacher, and it gives a certain satisfaction to work on them. We get to meet all sorts of people, and we get the opportunity to tell them about our work, and they really appreciate us! Devrai is really close to my heart.
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Amol Namdev Torkad (since 2025)
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Apprentice, specialising in Rock Dhokra
मैं देवराई में apprentice हूँ। मैं यहाँ पर काफी महीनों से काम कर रहा हूँ, यहाँ पर बाहर की दुनिया से कुछ unique करने को मिलता है। और यहाँ अलग अलग कलाकारों का सम्मेलन होता है, प्रकृति और कला का मिलन होता है। शांति और सुकून, विविध कलाकृति बनाने का chance, एक परिवार जैसा एहसास – ये सब मुझे बहुत अच्छा लगता है। और अब देवराई आर्ट विलेज से मेरा एक अनोखा रिश्ता बन गया है जो कभी टूट नहीं सकता।
I am an apprentice at Devrai. I’ve been working here for many months now, and here I get to do unique work. Here we have confluence of different artists, and coming together to nature and art. I like the peace, the family-like environment, the chance to do various forms of art. Now I have a very unique bond with Devrai which will never break!
<span data-buffer="">Niraj Kamble (since 2021)<span data-metadata="">
<span data-buffer="">Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from JJ School of Art, Mumbai<span data-metadata="">
प्रत्येक कलाकार हा कुणाकडून ना कुणाकडून काही ना काही शिकत असतो आणि तेच गुण तो आपल्या कलेमध्ये उतरवत असतो. स्वतःची कौशल्ये आणि इतरांकडून आत्मसात केलेली कौशल्ये या दोन्हींच्या संगमातून जी कला निर्माण होते, तीच कलेला नविनपणा देते. देवराई माझ्यासाठी अशी जागा आहे की, येथे येऊन इथल्या कलाकारांसोबत काही ना काही गुण घेऊन, म्हणजेच त्यांची कला आत्मसात करून, मला काहीतरी घडवायचा खरा आनंद मिळतो. या जागेत अशी ऊर्जा आहे की इथल्या लोकांकडून मला सतत काही ना काही शिकण्याची संधी मिळत राहते. जणू नव्या जन्मासारखीच, मला इथे एक नवी कला मिळाली आहे. मी चित्रकार असूनही, मला येथे मूर्तिकलेची संधी मिळाली आणि हळूहळू या कलेचा मला रस येऊ लागला. माझ्यासाठी देवराई म्हणजे माझं कुटुंबच आहे, असं वाटतं. ही जागा मी माझ्या आयुष्यात कधीच सहज विसरू शकत नाही. माझ्या आयुष्यातील पाच वर्षे देवराईसोबत गेलेली आहेत आणि इथून पुढेही, या मातीमध्ये रुजून, नव्याने जन्म घेत राहावं, असंच मला वाटतं.
Every artist, in one way or another, learns by taking something from someone else, and those very qualities find way into their art. When one’s own skills come together with the skills one has learned from others, the art that is created is truly new. Devrai feels like such a place for me. By being among these artists, absorbing their qualities and making their art a part of myself, I find the joy of creating something meaningful. There is an energy in this place that constantly offers opportunities to learn from the people around me. It feels like a new birth, as if I have discovered a new art here. Although I am a painter, I was given the opportunity to practice sculpture here, and gradually I began to develop a deep interest in this art. For me, Devrai feels like family. This is a place I can never easily forget in my life.
Five years of my life have been spent with Devrai, and even in the future, I feel that I will remain rooted in this soil, continuing to be reborn through my art.
<span data-buffer="">Yograj Bherawa (since 2023)<span data-buffer="">
<span data-buffer="">Traditional Dhokra artist from Odisha<span data-buffer="">
मुझे 2 साल से ज्यादा हो गए हैं Devrai में काम करते, मैं उड़ीसा से हूँ और मेरे गाँव में ढोकरा काम करने वाले सिर्फ बुजुर्ग लोग हैं, मेरी उम्र के नहीं हैं। यहाँ आकर मैने नया काम सीखा, और चीज़ों को बारीकी से करना सीखा, तो अब वापिस जाकर जब मैं काम करता हूं तो मेरा काम बाकी लोगों से अलग दिखता है। और काम अलग और अच्छा होने के कारण वह अच्छे दाम पर भी बिकता है। काम सीखने के साथ जो घर जैसा माहौल मुझे Devrai में मिलता है, वह बाहर कहीं काम करो तो नहीं मिलता है।
I’ve been working at Devrai for more than 2 years now, I’m from Odisha, and in my village Dhokra work is only done by the older generations, it’s not done by people my age. After coming here I’ve learned new types of artforms, and I’ve learned how to incorporate detail into the traditional Dhokra work, so now when I go back home and work, there is a marked difference between my work and others’ work. And because the work is different and better, we can get a better price for it. Apart from learning new things, I’ve gotten a home-like environment at Devrai, which one doesn’t get outside.
Impact and Recognitions
1. Started with just 3 artisans, now we are a team of 35 – artisans, artists and designers working together, bridging the gaps between art, craft and design. We employ traditional craftsmen from Chhatisgarh, Gadchiroi & Odisha as well as post graduates from mainstream art and design colleges like JJ School of Art & IICD, Jaipur
2. We received the “National Award for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship” from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India in 2019
3. We have over 100k followers on Instagram, which is our primary means of marketing
4. We have been creating educational resource material to fulfil the pedagogical needs for “Art Integrated Learning” as mandated by the New Education Policy. Our Chairperson is on the Board of Advisors of the NCERT, Department of Art and Aesthetics.
5. Rock Dhokra, the patented technique of fusing stone and metal, has not only got us appreciation, but has given us our identity as an Art Innovation Center
6. We provide a unique platform where artists can be employed full-time, instead of working as freelancers
7. The two acre Devrai forest garden, which has been resurrected from a barren piece of land in the last two decades, is a rich biodiversity hotspot that provides the right ambience and inspiration for all artists
Group of Design students on an educational visit to Devrai.
WATCH THE FILM
Imaging the
Unimaginable
A short film that showcases the magic behind the scenes at Devrai Art Village.
TEDxPanchgani
Evolving
Tradition
TEDx Talk by Mandakini Mathur (our founder) -evolving tradition is the way to sustaining it.