Gallery Silver Scpaes
Cognitive Vines
Cognitive Vines
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Artist: SHANAKA KULATHUNGA
Cognitive Vines, 2026
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 49 × 60 in (124.46 × 152.40 cm)
Shanaka Kulathunga explores the duality and complexity of human identity in this symbolic and psychologically charged composition through intertwined figures and flowing organic forms. The painting unfolds as a contemplative meditation on the multiple emotional selves that coexist within every individual. Three connected presences emerge from the composition, each representing a different dimension of human consciousness — the public self presented to society, the intimate self revealed in personal relationships, and the hidden inner identity that often remains concealed beneath outward appearances. Through this layered visual narrative, the artist reflects the emotional contradictions and shifting realities that shape human existence.
Kulathunga’s surreal imagery and expressive painterly language transform the figures into fluid psychological forms rather than fixed portraits. The interconnected bodies appear to merge and dissolve into one another, symbolizing the instability and constant transformation of identity over time. Their coexistence within a single visual space suggests the tension between authenticity and performance, vulnerability and protection, revealing how human beings navigate different emotional roles throughout life. The organic movement flowing across the composition evokes memory, instinct, and subconscious thought, creating a dreamlike atmosphere filled with introspection and emotional resonance.
Rich textures and luminous colour contrasts deepen the symbolic intensity of the work. Layered surfaces and expressive brushwork create rhythm and movement, allowing the painting to feel emotionally alive while maintaining a sense of mystery and ambiguity. Kulathunga balances abstraction with figurative symbolism, inviting viewers to interpret the composition through personal reflection and psychological awareness.
Through this evocative and philosophically layered artwork, Shanaka Kulathunga presents a powerful exploration of human psychology, emotional transformation, and the fragmented nature of selfhood. His contemporary artistic vision transforms surreal symbolism into a poetic meditation on identity, consciousness, and the invisible emotional worlds that exist within every individual.
Why Choose Us
Art has always, naturally, reflected the development and exploration of different thoughts and perceptions, and our current postmodern era is no different. It is interesting to see how art has evolved visually, yet the traditional methods of composing art remain a valid means of expression.
All it takes for an artist to rise above normalcy, is inspiration, which fuels his passion to paint beautiful creations throughout his life.
The valuable expression of art is always there with us, but now this expression is yet to take an interesting diversion with our art gallery, Gallery Silver Scapes, located in Hauz Khas Enclave. Art is no longer considered just decorative but has evolved and come forth as a major form of investment yielding high rates of returns for its buyers, making it an expression commonly used.
Mrs Mayor was walked into the art world by the legendary modernist Bimal Das Gupta, one of whose biggest collections remains with Gallery Silver Scapes. In the 1980s, as head and first curator of the Habiart Gallery founded by Mrs Rekha Modi — a childhood friend — Mrs Mayor worked closely with and curated shows for renowned artists such as A Ramachandran, GR Santosh, Rameshwar Broota, Sakti Burman, MK Bardhan, Dhiraj Chaudhury, M Sivanesan, and Arup Das among others.
Besides modern masters, she also worked with young contemporaries such as Sudip Roy, Paresh Maity, Subroto Kundu, Vinod Sharma, and many more. Artworks commissioned by her are now part of prestigious collections, such as those of the India Habitat Centre, Ranbaxy, Pepsi, Hotel Lalit, Bank of America, and many more private and public collections.