Pratiksha Apurv’s show Mystical Moments, expressed her journey as a divine seeker through meditation and spirituality. The exhibition was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of President Pranab Mukherjee.
Pratiksha Apurv, a well-known contemporary Indian painter, showcased her Mystical Moments series of artworks at Rashtrapati Bhawan Museum. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the museum on July 25, in the presence of President Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and other dignitaries. Mystical Moments series narrates stories of a seeker’s life on the canvas. With meditation as center of her existence, this new series of paintings are expression of Pratiksha’s own journey as a seeker and is based on the eternal truths embedded within the Sutras of our spiritual and mystical tradition and the science of meditation.
Mystical Moments explores the vast range of subjects with lyrical expression. One such work, Beyond Senses oil on canvas, touches upon the interesting aspect of our five senses that we have been told about since the childhood. This painting is an attempt to convey that our journey must not ignore the inner world that exists beyond senses. We do not need to destroy the senses but create a balancing act by re-directing them to inner world that would take oneself beyond the senses. The silence and stillness blended in the colors on canvas evokes a sense of mysterious moments, here and now.
Splendour of Compassion, one of her paintings of Mystical Moments, series describes the Karuna through Avalokiteshvara who with several heads and eyes ensures watch on people suffering and requiring immediate help. In Buddhism, compassion or karuna is described as a seed that is born out of deep meditation and its flourishing is important to attain Bodhisatva. Mahayana, a school of Buddhism, which emphasises Buddha’s life, focuses on feeling and compassion. Mahayana Sutra says a seeker – Bhikshus and Bhikshunis – must recite the mantra and bring forth a heart of kindness and compassion for all living beings.
“I believe everything comes from that meditative energy. When I put the brush to canvas, I’m total into it. The outer world doesn’t matter to me at all. I don’t need to see the greenery, hills or sea to paint. I do not find the process as technical but liberating, a process of decoding the hidden treasure,” said Pratiksha. The series has rich offerings from Upanishad’s, wisdom from Gita and deep insights of Kabir as well as vision of Gautam Buddha. Mystical Moments also has a set of three paintings on Tantra – Eternal Orgasm, Mahamudra and Synchronicity – visually depicting the sexual energy and its inner journey that goes beyond the mind. Pratiksha’s ten paintings titled Divine Art were selected for Soul of Asia section of 44th International Film Festival of India. IFFI was held from November 20 to November 30, 2013 in Goa. The show was inaugurated by the Hollywood star Susan Sarandon. She said, “When I met Pratiksha, I was delighted to see the breathtaking candour of her personality.”
Pratiksha Apurv – www.pratikshaart.com
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