Gallery Silver Scpaes
The Shamaan's Tale
The Shamaan's Tale
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Artist: Anjolie ela menon
Medium: Oil & Gold Leaf on Masonite Board
Size: 48 × 24.5 inches (121.92 × 62.23 cm)
Year: 1994
A dynamic interplay of sacred iconography and contemporary form defines this compelling oil on canvas, wherein a seated divine figure occupies a central position within a stylized, three-dimensional architectural framework. Evocative of Hindu religious imagery, the work harmonizes classical references with a modern visual vocabulary, synthesizing tradition and innovation in both form and symbolism.
At the heart of the composition is a figure, rendered in rich, earthy brown tones, seated with an arresting poise. The torso, bare from the midriff upward, features four distinct faces arranged across the chest, likely referencing multifaceted Hindu deities such as Brahma or aspects of Vishnu or Shiva. This visual multiplicity implies a divine omnipresence or transcendence, while the gold ornamentation adorning these faces reinforces the sanctity and ritual importance of the form.
Draped in a vivid garment of yellow and green, applied with luminous tonal contrasts, the figure exudes both stateliness and human intimacy. In its right hand, the deity-like figure holds a small box, inside which rests a red apple. This seemingly incongruous object injects a layer of symbolic ambiguity, evoking allegorical interpretations ranging from knowledge and temptation to mortality and offering, thereby opening interpretive space for both spiritual and secular readings.
The figure is housed within a meticulously rendered cuboid frame, painted in tones of powder blue and pale gray. This structure, with its architectural precision, suggests a sanctum or metaphysical container, an inner shrine or spiritual theater within which the divine performance unfolds. Behind this, heavy dark drapery functions as a backdrop, enhancing the theatrical composition while deepening the contrast between material form and divine essence. Further amplifying the work's symbolic architecture is the presence of a stark black-and-white checkerboard pattern that punctuates the background. Historically associated with dualities, light and dark, body and spirit, illusion and truth, this visual motif anchors the metaphysical tension of the piece, reinforcing its conceptual depth.
Executed with vibrant chromatic intensity and a meticulous command of form, the painting navigates themes of divinity, symbolism, and visual ritual. The juxtaposition of sacred emblems with surreal staging underscores the artist's contemporary reimagining of traditional Indian religious aesthetics. This composition not only reflects a reverence for devotional form but also presents a layered meditation on the theatricality, multiplicity, and enigma of spiritual embodiment.
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.