A canvas for Durga

Powerful strokes of Durga lend their energy to the canvases of contemporary artists who pay their artistic tribute to the Godddess. With diverse regional flavours to devotion, the common theme binding the canvases is goddess Durga. “Everybody’s way of worship and culture is different. Here the artists have portrayed their vision, form and expression on canvas in their own way and style,” states artist and curator Debabrata Biswas of Pegasus Art Gallery. His canvas of pen and ink depicts Charminar and the thottelu used during Bonalu strewn around the small temple adjoining it. “We worship the goddess/mother in a distinct form during Bonalu.

They are various forms of goddess and Durga is the mother of all,” he states. Artist Balachari heralds the Telangana culture with his Bathukamma flavour. The appeal of his  lies  in  Durga created of sand.

Durgashtami, the eighth day of Dasara holds a special significance. While we celebrate the victory of good over evil, many communities also perform the ‘Kumari puja.’ Inspired by Shakti, artist Archana Rajguru from Assam highlights this power through a little girl. “ Kumari is symbolic and represents the power of woman. She is the earth, nature. In the 10 fingers of the ‘kumari’ behind Durga lies the power and strength of a woman.” she states adding women should be aware of their power. She gets nostalgic as she recalls her childhood memories of Navratri in Assam. “It is a different kind of feeling during Dasara. There are festivities all around. One can feel the positive energy and the weather too gets ready to change. All these get us into the festive mood.”

Artists U Vijaykumar, Srikanth Babu and Bala Bhakta Raju have attempted a different canvas and theme. While Srikanth Babu is known for his Ananth Padmanabha Swamy paintings, Bala Bhakta Raju’s name is synonymous with works on Ganesha. Vijaykumar often does abstract figurative and his canvas shows the universe, planets, sun and earth in Durga. “It was a challenge for me,” he admits. Initially I was not confident and thought of withdrawing as I won’t be able to complete it. But I prayed to Durga and She helped me to finish it,” he adds.

Touch of reality

Artists Agnes D’cruz Rajesh and Sumana DGN’s creative landscape is realistic. “I believe there is Durga, a deity in the women and they personify the goddesses’ personality. The canvas shows what one would do, if one were a Devi,” she says. Titled ‘Autobiography of Durga -a woman’ Sumana’s canvas is spiritual and holds a mirror to current events. “Durga’s power killed the asura . Women of today have the power which helps them to handle their lives. I want them to be aware of their power,” she says adding a visit to Keyes High School makes her feel as if she is in Kolkata.

(Trinayana, an exhibition on Durga by a group of 19 artists is on at Pegasus Art Gallery till October 21)