Gallery Silver Scpaes
Out of the Dust
Out of the Dust
Couldn't load pickup availability
Artist: SHANAKA KULATHUNGA
Out of the Dust, 2026
Medium: Charcoal on Linen
Size: 35.43 x 47.24 inches
Shanaka Kulathunga demonstrates extraordinary mastery of gesture and movement in this intense and visually charged work, where a powerful melange of strokes forms a dense gathering of equine heads emerging through a haze of motion and atmosphere. The composition immediately conveys force, urgency, and momentum, suggesting the dramatic arrival of a herd of horses at the culmination of a race. Dust-filled surroundings and blurred forms intensify the sensation of speed and physical impact, immersing viewers within a moment suspended between motion and stillness.
Kulathunga’s expressive brushwork becomes the central language of the painting, transforming rapid strokes and layered textures into an emotionally charged visual experience. The horses appear restless and alive, their heads overlapping in an almost impossible proximity that defies natural realism. This deliberate distortion introduces a surreal quality to the work, moving it beyond simple representation into the realm of psychological and symbolic interpretation. The absence of visible bodies further amplifies the dreamlike tension of the composition, allowing the equine forms to exist as fragmented impressions rather than complete physical beings.
The repetition of the heads creates a rhythmic visual pattern that evokes themes of collective energy, instinct, competition, and emotional intensity. Rather than portraying individual animals, Kulathunga captures the essence of movement itself — raw, chaotic, and uncontrollable. The hazy background and layered tonal contrasts contribute to a cinematic atmosphere, where dust, speed, and fragmented memory merge into one unified emotional field.
Through this compelling and surreal composition, Shanaka Kulathunga transforms the familiar image of horses into a powerful meditation on motion, force, and perception. His remarkable command of expressive strokes and atmospheric abstraction allows the painting to transcend realism, becoming an evocative exploration of energy, instinct, and the fleeting nature of visual experience itself.
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.