Sacred Pot

Artist: Manu Parekh
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 29.7 × 23.7 inches (75.4 × 60.2 cm)
Year: 1992

This remarkable oil on canvas by Manu Parekh, painted in 1992, exemplifies the artist’s distinctive style that blends abstraction, symbolism, and expressive use of color. Parekh, one of India’s most celebrated modernists, is known for his ability to create layered narratives that transcend simple representation. This particular work reflects his fascination with the tension between the natural and human-made worlds, as well as his ongoing exploration of form and emotion.

At the heart of the composition is a large, ornate, reddish-pink form resembling a vase or vessel. It dominates the canvas, drawing the viewer’s eye with its bold presence. This central object seems to be suspended or held in place by a network of strands and threads, creating a sense of tension and balance. Rather than being a mere still life object, it feels alive, pulsating with energy and suggestive of both containment and release. Within and around it, one notices shapes that resemble insects or organic organisms, painted in shades of pink and purple. These ambiguous forms enhance the painting’s surreal quality, blurring the boundary between object and life form.

Surrounding this central motif are other compelling details. A tree emerges in muted shades of green, brown, and gray, grounding the composition in nature. A darker, more solid structure, perhaps part of a building, or even a draped figure, adds mystery and gravitas in tones of black and brown. These elements anchor the painting, preventing it from drifting into pure abstraction. In stark contrast to the muted tones, vivid yellow-orange forms suggest hanging pieces of meat or fowl suspended on a line. This striking motif recalls everyday scenes from markets, yet here it is transformed into an abstracted, almost ritualistic presence. These forms, both ordinary and unsettling, confront the viewer with the interplay of life, sustenance, and mortality.

On the lower plane, a textured table surface holds additional objects: a deep brown bowl and a small, light tan form resembling a cup or lid. These still-life elements, while simple, add material weight to the scene and remind the viewer of the domestic and earthly aspects of human existence. Parekh’s style here is bold, expressive, and deliberately non-realist. Brushstrokes remain visible, the colors vibrate against one another, and the forms resist easy categorization. What emerges is a surreal tableau that defies conventional still life. It is both symbolic and deeply personal, embodying the artist’s search for meaning through color, form, and the drama of tension and release.