New Delhi

A galaxy of stars from science and zodiac on display

Stars and being: An acrylic on canvas, ‘Nakshatra-Purusha’, by H. N. Suresh

NEW DELHI: A unique exhibition of paintings depicting the astral world titled ‘Tara Mandala’ has been mounted at the Art Gallery of India International Centre here.

The New Delhi Kendra of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan is hosting this exhibition by H. N. Suresh that will be on view till this Friday.

The artist, who is the director of Programmes and Projects of the Bhavan’s Bangalore Kendra, is also a freelance artist, trained by the well-known artist R. M. Hadapad of Ken School in Bangalore. An inveterate experimenter, Suresh has to his credit, many exhibitions both in India and abroad.

In this series, he has worked in three phases that speak volumes about not just his artistic skills but also his fertile imagination.

The series unfolds his deep study of the twin subjects of astrology and astronomy together, both in their scientific and ethereal perspectives. There has been a generous use of symbols and motifs in his works that help in identifying the characteristics of each design and the coloration, which lends a distinct imagery to the form. All this indicates the extensive study that has gone into each composition.

The calligraphic forays that dot the surface in the series on n akshatras heighten the visual impact in configuration.

In this series, Suresh has also embarked on exploring another aspect of that fascinating study - the planetary world (Navagrahas) as it were. The resultant canvases, painted in acrylics, may be termed as complimentary to earlier works, portraying the presiding deities of the 12 constellations, each housing nine segments of the nakshatras.

Suresh has also displayed a huge canvas titled ‘Rashi Mandala’, where one could view the Zodiac from different angles. The artist has freely drawn from the Indian ritualistic procedure, Vedic texts, traditional Western concepts and symbols from modern Science.

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