THE NEO [queer] RĀGAMĀLA
These paintings are a part of an ecosystem that integrates the emic approach to the study of South Asian music and visual art, along with immersive performance components – in finding inventive ways of representing queer male body, its limbs and parts to plural ecological elements. It aims at blurring the border between body, nature and eventually the spiritual itself. Thus questioning nature of the body, its genesis and defects, as well as systems of knowledge. The works bank on the historic rāgamāla paintings of courtly tradition of Central India (16th to 18th century CE, with their characteristic anthropomorphic representation of musical melodies along with abundant portrayal of nature) as an entry point. These new paintings eventually embody a contemporary interpretation of the concept, through a quasi-scientific trajectory with a social anthropologist’s quest.
Circumnavigating in Raag Yaman
oil on canvas
20 x 16 inches
2020
Combat of Love in Raag Tilang
oil on canvas
28 x 22 inches
2020
Euceladona in Raag Kedar
oil on canvas
24 x 18 inches
2020
His head
oil on linen
7 x 5 inches
2021
Naaga in Raag Tilang
oil on canvas
28 x 22 inches
2020
Celadonus-rosa hybridata
in Raag Tilang
oil on linen
30 x 22 inches
2020
Rosa-Aquamarina Hybridata
in Raag Kedar
oil on linen
30 x 24 inches
2020
That head
oil on linen
10 x 8 inches
2021
Infinite gaze
oil on canvas
8 x 8 inches
2020
Eucelahybridata stagnum
oil on canvas
15.5 x 11 inches
2020
Pitcherhead in Raag Kedar
oil on linen
17 x 11 inches
2020
Julian in Raag Kedar
oil on canvas
12 x 9 inches
2020
Idolicus amorium
oil on canvas
15.5 x 15 inches
2019
Towards Padmasan
oil on coarse canvas
6 x 5 inches
2019
Awaiting in Raag Yaman I
oil on canvas
5 x 4.5 inches
2019
Awaiting in Raag Yaman II
oil on canvas
5 x 5 inches
2019