Shashi Art

"Myths from the Depths"                                   

        An Exhibition of paintings at - Consulate General of India New York. 8 th to 14 th October 2015. 

                                                     

Exhibition was Inaugurated by Consulate General of India, New York, Mr Dhyaneshwar Mullay.

Chief Guest Ms Navina Haider- Curator of Islamic art galleries, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

“Myths from the Depths” is Shashi's ninth solo show and carries forward her work with the Sea.

While she continues to explore the romance between the Sun and the Sea, intermingled with the Maldivian way of life, she has added a new dimension to her works by exploring the mythological significance of the deep blue. The Sea has its own significance in Indian mythology. Tales of “Sagar manthan”, (the mythical churning of the oceans), the golden egg that conceived the physical form of Brahma, Vishnu’s “Matsya avatar” and many such stories permeate Indian tradition.

Shashi revives these tales in contemporary style- using bright colors, interspersed with white spaces.  The whiteness, unique to her paintings, denotes the 'all' of the particular painting. After all, white is nothing but a fusion of all colours; white encompasses every colour. White stands for Truth and Purity. White is the backdrop on which the entire story of the Universe is played out. The intricate work against the backdrop of whiteness conveys the story of the painting. In other words, while the painting is a page, the white strip is a chapter and Shashi's paintings are a book which narrates the story of the Sea as never seen before.

Shashi desires that anyone who sees and understands her works internalizes a love for the Sea, an entity which is in danger of rising temperatures, pollution, death of marine life, all due to toxic waste and other by-products of “progress”. She wants to remind people of the importance that the Sea has held in our lives not simply because of its economic benefits but its aesthetic appeal. The depiction of the Sea as a female figure is an effort to make her appear as a human being, and thus worthy of being saved and cherished, just like every human life.

Genesis       47''x 20''    Mix 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.

Matsya Avtar 20'' x 30''  Mixed media on Canvas.

                                      Matsya Avatar
                    Matsya, the Fish, is the first manifestation of Vishnu in the course of the Deluge: He saved humanity’s forbearers from the flood. Brahma had fallen asleep at the end of the Kalpa and the asura Hayagriva took advantage of this situation to steal the Vedas from him. However, Vishnu caught the asura in the act and decided to done the Matsya avatar to retrieve the Vedas. In this avatar, Vishnu warned Manu of an impending flood and asked him to collect as many seeds, herbs, plants and animals as possible along with the Saptarishi (seven rishis) and build a boat to secure all these. He instructs him that when the flood water increases, he should think of the fish that will then come over to help him out. Vishnu Matsyavatar then seeks out the demon Hayagriva and retrieves the Vedas from the under the conch buried in the sea, returning them Brahma at the beginning of Pralaya.  When the flood begins, Manu boards the boat and then prays to the fish for assistance. Matsya then appears and then uses the great snake Vasuki to tie the boat to a horn that has grown on his head. He then tows the boat to safety and leaves it on the only dry point

Lakshmi garlands Vishnuduring the Samundra Manthan.  

30'' x 42'' 

Acrylic and Ink on Canvas. 

Sagar Manthan is the mythical churning of the ocean by the Gods and the Demons to unearth the riches of the deep. Many boons came from the depths- the wish fulfilling tree Kalpataru, the divine elephant Airavat, Chandra or Moon and also Sri Mahalakshmi or Lakshmi.
Sri Mahalakshami, consort of Vishnu and the Goddess of Fortune, emerged next from the Ksheerasagara, resplendent in all Her glory, smiling benevolently and showering Her blessings to all the Devas present.

Whorls of Life.
30''x 40''
Mix Media On Canvas.

Life's timeless flow,  Aquatic avian and human.
 47''x  20''
Mix Media On Canvas.

n the clouded sky, Urge for the light, Hope against hope. -
47'' x  20''
Acrylic and Ink 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.

The Golden Sensation . 18'' x  18'' Mix Media On Canvas. 

Season Of Splendour    

36''x 36''  
Acrylic and Ink On Canvas

Boduberu music, Unites the souls, With sea and sky.
36'' x  36''
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas

The theme of the painting titled ‘Bodu Beru’is the traditional folk dance of the Maldives. The term comes from the Dhivehi words ‘bodu’ and ‘beru’ meaning ‘big’ and ‘drum’. Although the essence of Boduberu has been captured by the dancing couple, the dance is also influencing the Nature at the same time, compelling Nature to join in. This unity of beat and Nature is seen in the gamboling fish in the sea and the soaring birds in the sky.

Maldivian  serenity,    Mancala game ,  female bonding.
36'' x 36''
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas

This painting depicts two Maldivian ladies absorbed in the game of Mancala, a count-and-capture board game, probably introduced to the Maldives by the Arab seafarers. At the same time, the background details illustrate various snippets from the daily routine of a lady in the Maldives.

                                                                                           

 Fusion 18'' x 18'' Acrylic and Ink on Canvas 

                     Soaring Desire ,  40'' x  32''  Mix Media on Canvas       

As the sun begins to set, the youthful lovers- The Sun and The Sea- hold each other in one last embrace. As desires soar in the dusky colors, the heron and fish bear witness to the growing desire in the fleeting moment between the lovers.

Hum Hindustani, USA. Oct 23 - 29, 2015