© Bhajju Shyam
Bhajju Shyam “MORIBITO”
Saturday, August 22 – Saturday, September 12, 2026 13:00–19:00
*Closed on Sundays, Mondays and Holidays.
LAG (LIVE ART GALLERY) /
Daiwa Jingumae Bldg. 1F, 2-4-11 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001
Cooperation｜Bhajju Shyam KYOTO
LAG is pleased to present MORIBITO, a solo exhibition by Bhajju Shyam, one of the leading artists of Gond art from India, on view from August 22 through September 12, 2026.
The exhibition celebrates the publication of MORIBITO: The Keeper of Memories, a picture book born out of the Bhajju Shyam KYOTO project. Told through Bhajju Shyam’s own words and newly created original paintings, MORIBITO is an autobiographical work. Inspired by a desire to carry memories forward for future generations before they fade away, the book traces his life—from his childhood in a forest village, to his encounter with his mentor, his departure for the city, and the beginning of his journey as an artist.
Rooted in the worldview and traditions of the Gond people, Bhajju Shyam has developed a unique visual language shaped by his own experiences. In MORIBITO, he writes that “the memory of the Gond people lives on through the lines I draw.” The exhibition will feature the original artworks created for the book alongside related works and publications. By experiencing the original paintings together with the book, visitors are invited to encounter the stories embedded in each work and the memories that continue to resonate through them.
During the exhibition, two public talk events will also be held. The first, on August 22, will explore Indian culture and the Gond people, while the second, on September 4, will focus on the making of the MORIBITO animation and picture book. Together with the exhibition, these programs offer an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Bhajju Shyam’s artistic practice and the background of the MORIBITO project.
PROFILE
Bhajju Shyam
Bhajju Shyam is an acclaimed artist belonging to the Pradhan Gond community of central India, an indigenous community known for their bardic tradition of storytelling. The stunning visual art expression of the Gond people began with painting the walls of their homes with animals and motifs borrowed from traditional tattoos. In recent decades, several Pradhan Gond artists have transposed their work to paper and canvas to create works of staggering beauty and complexity. Bhajju Shyam is one of the most celebrated artists of his generation. Bhajju is marked out by his careful and intense visual imagery. He paints in the twilight space between the contemporary predicament and the inherited sites of his art practice. Bhajju lives in Bhopal, India and is the recipient of the State Award for Best Indigenous Artist from the government of Madhya Pradesh and the Ojas Art Award at the Jaipur Literature Festival. His work is traveling increasingly widely and has been exhibited at major venues in India and Europe.
His best-known work, The London Jungle Book, is a visual travelogue of his 2002 visit to London, where he went to paint the interior of an up-market Indian restaurant. The book, published by Tara Books and the Museum of London, was
released in November 2004, along with a three-month exhibition at the Museum. It has now been published in Italian, Dutch and French, Korean & Portuguese, and the exhibition has since toured the UK, Germany, Holland, Italy and Russia.
Publication
MORIBITO: The Keeper of Memories
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Artist｜Bhajju Shyam
Size｜W380 × H220 mm
Extent｜48 pages
Languages｜Trilingual edition (Japanese, English, and Hindi)
English Translation｜Christopher Stephens, VISIONS
Hindi Translation｜Rachita Srivastava, JAPANDIA
Art Direction & Design｜Kenta Shibano
Printing & Binding｜Live Art Books Co., Ltd.
ISBN: 978-4-9914474-1-9
Price：3,960 JPY（tax included）
RELATED Events
Bhajju Shyam 『MORIBITO』 Book Launch Fair
Dates ｜ Friday, August 15 – Sunday, September 6, 2026 (Open every day during the event)
Hours ｜9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Venue ｜2F, Building No. 21, Daikanyama Tsutaya Books
Admission ｜ Free