Ishani Bose

Traversing Mythical Lands

by Jan 2, 2025Art, Literature, and Culture

Artist Sadanandan’s ongoing exhibition based on traditional Kerala murals promises to give you a glimpse of India’s cultural and social mythology.

Mythology has inspired many authors, painters, directors, and sculptors to produce various art forms. It is mythology that gives us a sneak peek into what’s unimaginable or beyond belief. Depicting mythology in its true essence is artist Sadanandan, whose ongoing exhibition at Ark Gallery is based on traditional Kerala murals showcasing cultural and social mythicism.

Sadanandan studied under the Gurukul system for five years, after which he graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Karnataka. Since then, the talented artist has experimented with different styles, bringing about innovative changes while staying within the required guidelines and keeping the value of the art intact. “I have always been fascinated with mythology and nature in its physical, metaphysical, and spiritual form. He says that most of my figurative works have showcased classical nayikas, other mythological characters, and local flora,” he says.

His latest exhibition consists of paintings based on old texts of Kalidasa’s poem Ritusamhara, which have been created using natural colours. “I always prepare my own colours, which have been extracted from different plants. For example, the blue colour is extracted from a plant called Neela Amari or Indigoferra while yellow is attained from Gamboge, a gum-like substance obtained from several evergreen trees,” says Sadanandan, adding that he needs to add acrylic paints to the natural colours, to give it the necessary sheen on canvas.

The artist has been painting for the last 22 years and his expertise is seen in his paintings, which are created with an envious ease within a span of 45 to 60 days. Some of his iconic works include the Kerala murals that adorn the walls of Sri Palpanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Hotel Imperial in Delhi, and other hotels and churches. Sadanand has showcased his work at 11 solo exhibitions and over 45 group exhibitions in the country and abroad. The exhibits in his latest exhibition are priced between Rs.1 lakh and six lakhs.