The Faceless Perceiver: 2013

Sunday, 24 February 2013

The Void's Illumination

The Void’s Illumination

Medium : Acrylic on Canvas

Size :

The Vedic God Shiva has traditionally been depicted as a destroyer and the bringer of destruction. Shiva is the Lord of elemental beings and souls. In this painting I have illustrated him in one of his abodes, the Netherworld, where he is found to be meditating in a deep trance-like state wherein he is one with Death itself.

It is believed that one can find peace in death. Death is not something to be afraid of. This can be seen in the painting where God is seen to be in between a state of Life and Death, Order and Decadence, Creation and Destruction.

Shiva is the God that humans can relate to and 'approach' most easily yet is so celestial and unpredictable, just as Death is. He is seen wearing a snake around His neck as a cosmetic accessory. The snake is the embodiment of carnal lust and wrath and Shiva wearing it around His neck symbolizes His complete control.

In this adaptation, Shiva is shown to have a blue, glowing skin tone similar to the one traditionally attributed to the Lord Vishnu, upon whom He is constantly meditating, and resonating with. The realms under Shiva’s control, from where souls descend to join him in his never-ending dream are portrayed in the form of four orbs around the Lord.

Only the third eye, found on Shiva’s forehead, is seen to be open. This is a metaphor for the impending beginning or end, for in His unpredictability lies His beauty.

The Spirit of Carnevale

Medium : Acrylic on Canvas

Size :

The title gives it away. Yes, it is about the grandeur-filled Venetian Carnevale with its parties, dances and music that make it special. But the first thing that comes to the mind when we think of Venice's grand Carnevale is the splendid dressing and yes, the beautiful venetian masks. These masks made in Venice for over centuries, stand as the icon of the Carnevale in a way with its beauty created by intricate craftsmanship of the mask makers. These masks have always been an element of mystery, giving the wearer the anonymity and protecting his identity for various reasons be it political, forbidden love or just as a surprise factor. The mask hid not only the wearer's face but also his or her entire identity and status thereby making it easier for anybody to relate, express and socialize with him or her without the status clash getting in the way and also helping the occasional forbidden lovers (as much as helping the political /governing police forces and anti social plotters) In this painting "The Spirit of Carnevale" I have illustrated a 'larva' or 'ghost' mask in an attempt to capture and depict the elements of beauty, grace and of course, mystery.

"Sometimes One wears a mask for a long time , so long that what is underneath it is forgotten and the mask remains , becoming the real visage and the wearer becomes a lost specter. "

The Harbinger

Medium: Watercolor on Watercolor paper

Size:

My artist's impression of Lord Krishna is quite different from the traditional perceptions of Him. I have highlighted His androgynous features by trying to shape His facial features in an imitation of the angels in paintings made during the renaissance era .

A small change of state in some point of space-time, akin to the beating of a butterfly's wings creates a much magnified change in a different point of space time, like a typhoon on the other side of the world. This is as stated in the Chaos Theory. I have drawn the Lord Krishna with butterfly-esque wings both as a metaphoric comparison to an angel and to depict that small changes or actions taken by Him have a large domino-like effect on the lives of others around him. His foresight and His planning are evident in the way He pre-determines the course of the war and nudges things along in such a way that the events of the war take place just as He has planned.

Krishna is the ultimate observer, removed and elevated from the plane of reality. He is the only incarnate considered to be "Purna avatar" or full incarnate, denoting that he is closest to the pure form of the Lord in the avatar cycle.

Iteration - Order and Chaos

The Iteration- Order and Chaos

Medium : Charcoal on Paper

Size : A3

It is believed that when evil and instability threaten to drown the world, the lord will purge the world of everything and give humanity a new beginning . In this example from the ancient Vaishnavite scriptures, the lord manifests in the form of a humongous fish with a horn and guides the protagonist Manu through the apocalyptic flooding along with two members of all species on a large ship. In my artist's interpretation of this scene, the Lord is shown in his fish form as well as his divine state leading Manu's boat to safety through this chaos.

Careful observers may notice the references to the atrocities and inhumane acts perpetrated in recent times. It is seen that when a human civilization reaches the zenith of disorder and chaos it shall fall and a new order shall be established from its ashes. And the iteration continues ....Ashes to ashes.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Medium : Charcoal on Paper

Size : A3

This is an abstract/expressionist artwork portraying the subconscious and consciousness of a person with dissociative identity disorder. The various persona of the individual are represented with a varying look matching to the emotions ,need and ideals they hold. These dissociated fragments of the person in this artistic impression of mine are radically driven with emotions and ideals such as regret , hatred, love and power thirst and so on. The individual could have experienced traumatic experiences that probably forced the individual to dissociate and experience these simple yet complex emotions and mental states . So many voices heard and yet no answers for his queries and cause, so is the plight of this patient. These dissociated identities get to manifest in moments of lapse in the original consciousness. In this abstraction we find the individual being persuaded by his "dark" persona , warned and guided by the "light" and the personalities like the "whiner" and the "regretful" .

Prince of Ayodhya

Medium : Acrylic on Canvas

Size :

The Lord Rama in this painting is shown about to strike at his opponent, the Demon Ravana who has sinned to the point where he is past redemption. I have drawn inspiration from Guido Reni’s painting of Archangel Michael slaying Satan in creating this work. Similar to Michael who is seen graceful and composed while banishing Satan, Rama is also shown to be killing Ravana in much the similar pose, taking aim with His bow without actually looking at his target. It is evident that Rama has attained a state of omnipotence and thereby, His arrow shall not fail to strike its mark. This painting also depicts Rama levitating several feet above the ground level while taking aim. This represents His momentary transcendence into a fully divine, God-like state. Also, I have depicted the bow as not being pulled by a physical string, but by His Divine Will.

It is noteworthy to mention that the adversaries of both Lord Rama and the Archangel Michael are both Fallen Angels, after a fashion. Also noteworthy that both were Princes, Rama of Ayodhya and Michael, Angel Prince of Israel, and that they were assisted and aided by their three younger brothers.

The careful observer may notice that Rama’s feet are covered by his saffron ascetic-robes. The Lord’s feet are known to be the refuge and sanctuary of those who seek mercy and forgiveness. Thus, by depicting them as being covered by his robes, I have hinted at the fact that the demon Ravana is past redemption and forgiveness due to the heinous nature of his sins and his refusal to ask for forgiveness even when granted a prior chance.

The sun in the background is shown to be experiencing a solar flare. This is my metaphor for the wrath of Rama, who belongs to the Sun Clan, and the clouds clearing which symbolizes clarity. Thus, Judgment shall be passed.

The Progenitor

Medium : Acrylic on Canvas

Size :

This is a painting of the Creator, Brahma. His four heads are shown as if in a time-lapse of turning, to show the act of creation through space and time. Green is the only color used in this monotone painting, to symbolize growth and creation and prosperity. The insignia on His foreheads represents harmony. He is seated on a large lotus flower, which burns with the Fire of Creation. He stands as a forefather for all forms of life.

The Sentinel

Medium: Digital Art (Photoshop and pencil sketch)

An abstract/expressionist work depicting the watchers standing guard in anticipation of any event . Infinite eyes that see and stand guard for all they believe in , the sentinels truly are the watchful guardians/protectors in times of both order and chaos.

The Fallen Angel

Blinded

Medium : Watercolor on Paper

Size : A4

“O sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams

That bring to my remembrance from what state I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere.”

-John Milton,Paradise lost

Noted and known to be the only statue representing the fallen angel 'Lucifer', the statue in Madrid in a square that goes by the name "‘La Plaza del Angel Caido’ (Fallen Angel Square) is the one I have used as a reference for this painting . (A picture of the statue of Lucifer to be precise) The statue depicts Lucifer in a moment of agony and anger which one can easily notice from the way he has his mouth wide open in horror and pain.And the way his hands are sculpted to cover his vision was perfect for my work based on Milton's quote from paradise lost.

Limits

Medium : Acrylic on Canvas

Size :

This painting is based upon the story of the Enlightenment of Mahabali, the good natured yet arrogant demon king. He overestimated himself and believed that he could sanction any boon to an incarnation of God himself, who in this case took the form of a young hermit boy. The hermit boy asked the King for three paces of land measured by his own steps. Bali agreed to give the boy whatever land he could pace out in three steps. The hermit boy magnified his form and grew so large that he covered all the mortal realms with his first step and all of heaven and hell in his second and the third he placed on the demon's head thereby granting him enlightenment and immortality. I have illustrated the Lord's scaling of the universe with his feet as mahabali watches and learns his limits and the limitlessness of the Lord.

Archangel Michael Statue

Medium : Pencil on paper

Size: A3

Angel Portrait

Medium : Indian Ink on Paper

Size : A3

Recreation of 'Justice' by Andrea Del Sarto

Medium : Charcoal on Paper

Size : A3

Remorse

Medium : Indian Ink on Paper

Size : A3

This is a picture of a samurai sitting on the bank of a river under a tree seeking a moment of respite from his life as a murderer. No matter how much he tries to wash the victims’ blood from his hands, he fails. His state is much similar to Lady Macbeth, when she says “Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?”

The ever hungry raven always follows him around for it knows that wherever the samurai goes, death … and carrion may be found in plenty.

This painting is inspired by the life of Miyamoto Musashi.