KAPIL JARIWALA GALLERY
TANTRA AN EXHIBITION OF TANTRIC ART AND TANTRIC RESONANCE IN MODERN ART
Tantra defines a cult, a philosophy, an artistic representation and a way of life in Hindu India. The literal translation from the Sanskrit alludes to Tantra as being a set of scriptures or texts, demonstrating essential principles that will lead to spiritual and physical fulfilment; Tantra is a framework for a devotional life. These doctrines lay down laws and guidelines to help believers negotiate their relationship to the world around them, mortality and ultimately their place in the cosmos. So in artistic terms, Tantric art is the visual embodiment of conceptual metaphysical notions. This exhibition is organised in two distinct halves, the first shows historic works that deal with various aspects of Tantra; meditation and contemplation; natural primal forces; devotion and the universe. The paintings are mostly leaves from manuscripts, which were probably made and used by temple priests. These preachers or holy men consulted these texts in order to advise their paying “clients”. The pundit, as he was known, would then prescribe a specific mantra, or ask the believer to direct their pujas (prayers) to an appropriate deity or natural element. Within this context, these paintings were not intended as “art”, but a visual manifestation of complex issues or simply a visual prescription to remedy a spiritual problem – indeed they can be regarded as illuminations, in the true sense of the word. The second half showcases five modern artists either working directly in the tradition of Tantra, as in the case of Acharya Vyakul, or have been profoundly influenced by its visual and spiritual language, as with Charlotte and Michael Cain. By contrast we are showing Mali Morris, whose work harbours unconscious resonances from the abstract nature of Tantric art.
T A N T R A ASPECTS OF TANTRIC TRADITIONS IN INDIAN ART
A SWASTIKA YANTRA TH
TH
Late 18 early 19 century Rajasthan Gouache on paper 11 x 25 cm â‚Ź 1, 750
A MEDITATION MIRROR (VALKANNADI) TH
18 century Nepal Bronze 14 cm height € 4, 750
AGNI DARSHAN (FIRE WORSHIP) c. 1850 Nepal Gouache on paper 13 x 13.5 cm € 2, 500
JAIN CELESTIAL HOUSES c. 1700 Udaipur, Rajasthan Opaque watercolour and gold on paper 35 x 24.5 cm â‚Ź 3, 250
A GENEALOGIACAL TREE OF SRI VALLABHACHARYA c. 1840 Nathdwara, Rajasthan Gouache on paper mounted onto cloth 67.5 x 79.5 cm € 5, 590
AN EROTIC SCENE: A PRINCE WITH TWO WOMEN AN ILLUSTRATION TO A KAMA SUTRA c. 1720 Mewar, Rajasthan Gouache on paper 26 x 19 cm € 5, 590
LOVERS ON A PEACOCK FEATHER BED c. 1700 Basholi Opaque watercolour on paper 173 x 173 cm
A SHRINATHJI PICHHVAI: DEPICTING DAUJI PERFORMING ARATI c.1840 Nathdvara, Rajasthan Pigment on calico 137 x 101 cm € 4, 500
AJNA CHAKRA (THE OPENING OF THE THIRD EYE) TH
19 century Rajasthan Opaque watercolour on paper 10.7 x 25.5 cm € 1, 250
A JAIN HOROSCOPE TH
19 century Rajasthan Opaque watercolour on paper 11 x 25 cm â‚Ź 1, 250
EIGHT FIELDS TEXT TH
19 century Rajasthan Opaque watercolour on paper 11 x 24.5 cm â‚Ź 1, 250
NAGA EIGHT FIELDS TH
19 century Rajasthan Opaque watercolour on paper 11 x 24.5 cm â‚Ź 1, 250
A JADU MANUSCRIPT (MAGIC IMAGE) TH
19 century Rajasthan Opaque watercolour on paper 11 x 24.8 cm € 1, 250
EIGHT FIELDS TH
19 century Rajasthan Opaque watercolour on paper 10 x 12 cm â‚Ź 750
ASTALINGATOBHADRA YANTRA (HARI HARA BOARD) c. 1840 Rajasthan Watercolour 14.8 x 14.5 cm € 1, 850
A GROUP OF TEN YANTRAS TH
Early 20 century Jaipur, Rajasthan Gouache on Paper 18.5 x 13.5 cm (Approx each) â‚Ź 3, 500
AN ABSTRACTED IMAGE OF MOUNT MERU c. 1850 Rajasthan Gouache on paper 23 x 11.2 cm
€ 1, 200
A TANTRIC MAP TH
Early 20 century Jaipur, Rajasthan Gouache and ink on Paper 21 x 11 cm â‚Ź 500
T A N T R I C R E S O N A N C E CONTEMPORARY TANTRIC ART AND TANTRIC RESONANCE IN MODERN ART
MALI MORRIS FOUR SQUARE 2007 Acrylic on canvas 24 x 30 cm € 3, 750
MALI MORRIS PETALS 2006 Pastels on paper 10.5 x 15 cm € 1, 400
MALI MORRIS BLUE VALENTINES 2001 Acrylic on canvas 26 x 31 cm € 3, 750
MALI MORRIS SURFACED LATER (3) 2010 Acrylic on canvas 26 x 31 cm € 3, 750
MICHAEL PETER CAIN HOOK EYE 2004 – 2014 Indian copper enamel Krishna eyes on found steel and Cyanoacrylite cement 3 x 15.7 x 9 cm Edition of 10 € 1, 100
MICHAEL PETER CAIN SOMABRERO 2007- 2014 Flock and patina on cast Indian brass and epoxy 10 x 15 x 10 cm Edition of 10 € 3, 850
MICHAEL PETER CAIN XIPE (SEEING) #1 1995-2014 Cuncum on patina on bronze 19 x 19 x 45.7 cm Edition of 6 € 9, 750
MICHAEL PETER CAIN SEED OF THE WORLD FORMING PROCESS #25 1989- 2014 Encaustic patina on bronze 31.7 x 25.4 x 14 cm Edition of 5 € 5, 850
MICHAEL PETER CAIN WALL EYE 2014 Indian copper enamel Krishna eyes and encaustic patina on hydrostone casting of found steel, ball bearings, cyanoacrylite cement and steel 2.5 x 15.5 x 9 cm â‚Ź 675
MICHAEL PETER CAIN BINDU #1 1997 - 2014 Rubbed bright metal finish on Indian brass 19 x 10 x 10 cm Edition of 10 â‚Ź 3, 000
MICHAEL PETER CAIN BINDU # 2 1997 – 2014 Encaustic patina on Indian bronze 19 x 10 x 10 cm Edition of 10 € 3, 000
MICHAEL PETER CAIN BINDU #3 1997 – 2014 Encaustic patina on Indian bronze 19 x 10 x 10 cm Edition of 10 € 3, 000
MICHAEL PETER CAIN THE HUMAN CONDITION 1997-2014 Bright metal finish on Indian brass, 20 x 11.5 x 4 cm Edition of 15 € 3, 000
CHARLOTTE CAIN PLANT TEACHER, JUNGLE VINE # 2 2011 Gouache and graphite on paper mounted onto panel 30.5 x 30.5 cm € 1, 950
CHARLOTTE CAIN PLANT TEACHER, JUNGLE VINE # 3 2011 Gouache and graphite on paper mounted onto panel 30.5 x 30.5 cm € 1, 950
CHARLOTTE CAIN PLANT TEACHER, JUNGLE VINE # 7 2011 Gouache and graphite on paper mounted onto panel 30.5 x 30.5 cm € 1, 950
CHARLOTTE CAIN PLANT TEACHER, JUNGLE VINE # 8 2011 Gouache and graphite on paper mounted onto panel 30.5 x 30.5 cm € 1, 950
CHARLOTTE CAIN CHITRA LILA # 16 2005 Pigment on antique Indian paper 20.5 x 21 cm € 1, 600
CHARLOTTE CAIN VARANASI LINGAMS # 4 2007 Pigment on antique Indian paper 20.2 x 20.2 cm € 1, 600
CHARLOTTE CAIN BOWER HILL #2 2010 Pigment on antique Indian paper 20.2 x 17.6 cm € 1, 600
CHARLOTTE CAIN KALI - PANCHA KROSHA PILGRIMAGE 2008 Pigment on antique Indian paper 21 x 20.5 cm € 1, 600
ARTIST UNKNOWN YONI AND SEED TH
c. Mid 20 century Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 13 x 14.5 cm â‚Ź 1, 600
ARTIST UNKNOWN SWASTIKA YANTRA TH
c. Mid 20 century Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 15 x 13.5 cm € 1, 600
ARTIST UNKNOWN SHALAGRAMA TH
c. Mid 20 century Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 20.5 x 14.5 cm € 1, 600
ARTIST UNKNOWN SEEDS TH
c. Mid 20 century Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 24 x 13 cm â‚Ź 1, 600
ARTIST UNKNOWN CONNECTED SEEDS TH
c. Mid 20 century Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 16 x 13 cm € 1, 600
ARTIST UNKNOWN THE COSMOS TH
c. Mid 20 century Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 12.7 x 12 cm â‚Ź 1, 600
ACHARYA VYAKUL (1930 – 2000) SHALIGRAMA 1992 Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 16.7 x 21.4 cm € 5, 100
ACHARYA VYAKUL (1930 – 2000) GAMNAGAMANA 1990 Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 20.8 x 30.2 cm € 5, 100
ACHARYA VYAKUL (1930 – 2000) PRATI SAMPRAPTI 1994 Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 16.4 x 25.2 cm € 5, 100
ACHARYA VYAKUL (1930 – 2000) BIJA SHAKTI 1995 Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 16.1 x 21 cm € 5, 100
ACHARYA VYAKUL (1930 – 2000) SHALIGRAMA 1990 Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 15.2 x 22.3 cm € 5, 100
ACHARYA VYAKUL (1930 – 2000) GATI AVGATI 1991 Jaipur, Rajasthan Pigment on paper 21.5 x 15.2 cm € 5, 100