Mangala Bai Maravi (India)

Born 1988 in Dindori Madhya Pradesh, India
Lives and works in Madhya Pradesh

Amit Arjel-Sharma; Artist Assistant

Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney and White Bay Power Station

Chau Chak Wing Museum

Baiga Godna Indian Tribe, 2024
ink on paper
Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney and the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain.
Courtesy the Baiga Tribe
Artist Assistant: Amit Arjel-Sharma

White Bay Power Station

Baiga Godna Indian Tribe, 2024
ink on canvas
Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney and the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain.
Courtesy of the Baiga Tribe
Artist Assistant: Amit Arjel-Sharma

The women of the Baiga community in central India (primarily in the state of Madhya Pradesh) begin receiving tattoos from as young as age nine, starting with their forehead before covering their back, legs and chest. The designs, known as Godna, are a record of life and culture, and are known to hold healing properties when applied correctly.

Among some of the earliest communities in South Asia, in recent times the Baiga people have been displaced by deforestation and government policy. In turn, the tradition of Godna is fading because (unlike jewellery or written records) the history that is encapsulated in these tattoos disappears with those who wear them.

Mangala Bai Maravi, one of the few remaining Badnin (women tattoo artists) in her community, has committed her life to preserving and sharing this tradition. Documenting the symbols and stories of her people, across not only bodies but also canvas and paper, Maravi’s practice can be understood as an act of cultural preservation and healing.

Mangala Bai Maravi, daughter of Shanti Bai Maravi – a well-known Baiga tattoo artist from Lalpur village, Madhya Pradesh, India – has found an interesting way to revive the Baiga tattoo culture. Translating tribal tattoo designs to paper and canvas, Mangala Bai is engaged in keeping her Baiga traditions alive. This innovative style of preservation has become a dependable source of income for her family and has drawn attention to the distinctive tattoos and culture of the Baiga people. 

Read more about the 24th Biennale of Sydney, Ten Thousand Suns, by purchasing the catalogue here.