This artwork is part of a series titled ‘Radiance’, in which Anand Panchal draws upon the narratives of ancient sacred Hindu texts, for the characters that populate his enchanting compositions. The ten incarnations of Vishnu, known as the Dashavatara in Hindu mythology, is a thread that binds the series, finding expression in the motifs that are depicted in the paintings.
For this series, Panchal was inspired by the art on the walls of temples he visited in his youth, as well as the legends and myths told by his grandmother. He has used an artistic language that draws inspiration from the different schools of the Miniature Art tradition of India, such as the Pahari, Kangra, Rajput and the Madhubani, to tell ancient stories in a style that is his own. The sketches of the characters in the background come alive with his controlled application of texture.
Playing freely with colour, Panchal toys with the colours of the sky, that depict the ‘calm’ and the emotional depth of his artworks. The grey tones in particular, are an anchor that holds the series together, forming the background for Panchal’s retelling of stories new and old.