"Visions Beyond The Sea" Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery, Mumbai. 2014

                            Smt Arundhati Bhattacharya Chairman, SBI 

                                  Inaugurated the Exhibition 

                                       

Smt Arundhati Bhattacharya Inaugurating the exhibition 

With Sonaina Kejriwal ,Prakash Bal Joshi And Shri Madhusudan Kumar.

                                            About the exhibition

We all have seen the sea, heard it, smelt it, even tasted its saltiness in the air, awed by its immensity and scared by its inky blue depths that hide the great unknown that lurks beneath the surface. But, most of us fail to see beyond what we perceive.

The works in this exhibition, aptly titled, “Visions Beyond the Sea” represent the artist’s vision and impressions of the sea.

Shashi Thakur spent her childhood playing on the beaches of Mumbai. The childhood memories left a deep impression in her subconscious. With time, the memories faded as she got relocated to Jabalpur, away from the sea. Shashi completed her post graduation in Fine Arts and began her artistic journey. As time went by, Shashi got another opportunity to relate to the sea; this time it was a long stay in the Maldives. The forgotten childhood memories resurfaced, stronger than ever. Since then her canvas has focused on the Sun and the Sea. In her 4 solo shows which she held in the Maldives, her work was well-received and acclaimed as it offered an entirely new perspective on the sea to locals of Maldives.

Constrained by the curbs on religious iconography in an Islamic nation, her love tales of Radha-Krishna, metamorphosed into a love story of the Sun and the Sea. The narrative captures the different moods of the romance between the two primal forces of nature. While the Sun represents the masculine qualities of fire and passion, the Sea is the ever mysterious and patient female.  The divine union of the two conceived the earliest life forms and originated Life itself.

The deep rooted influences of Indian mythology appear on her canvasses as depictions of the mythical churning of the seas – “Sagar Manthan”, where the sea yielded not only priceless treasures from its hidden depths, but also spewed out toxic substances.

Sagar Manthan
36"x 48"
Mixed Media On Canvas

In a manner, even today, “Sagar Manthan” continues as mankind exploits the innumerable riches that remain concealed in the unmapped depths of the oceans. Over-exploitation by man has not spared even the vast oceans.  Shashi has attempted to portray the anguish of the Sea in her works. She has highlighted the issue of global warming in a style that evokes concern and love for the oceans in the viewer, rather than paint a dark and dismal picture. Love for the oceans can awaken mankind in a manner that no amount of serious warnings or documentaries can do. Indeed a painting speaks a thousand words.

                           

Passionate Embrace
42"x 32"
Mixed Media On Canvas

Youthful love is very passionate. This work is a part of the love story of the Sun and the Sea and depicts how the Sun holds the Sea in one, last, passionate embrace just before Sun down and the inevitable parting. The Herons are witnesses to this expression of love as the Sea’s waves become slightly agitated- just like the way the heart beats faster in such in romantic moments.

I the clouded sky,
Urge for the light,
Hope against hope.
47"x 20"
Mixed Media On Canvas.

 An expected parting is one thing, but when one is forced to bid their beloved an unexpected farewell discomfort is caused. This painting conveys the confusion of the Sea when she is unable to find her bright Sun. The Sun is buried deep in the dark and depressing clouds which thunder showers of sorrow on the earth. The Sea experiences sadness and rage, which gives rise to gigantic and destructive waves in the ocean.

Genesis
20"x 47"
Mixed Media On Canvas.

The Golden Egg lay dormant in the Sea’s womb for eons but Genesis only began when Prakriti (Nature) or the Saguna Brahman merged with the Egg. The Saguna Brahman consists of twenty five elements broadly divided into the five Mahabhutas, the five Tanmatras, the five Indriyas and Karmendriyas, along with Kala (Time).  The Sea looks at the glowing egg in its womb as it starts to reveal the physical form of the Lord Brahma, The Creator, and thus give birth to all Creation itself.