কুন্তী or Kunti was a character of the Mahabharata.She tried to be an ideal mother of the protagonists, Pandavas. Alas, she was only a human… this piece explores the human nature of that character.
Since her husband, king Pandu, was unable to procreate, with his consent, she worshiped the Devas and became “blessed” with three of the eldest Pandavas. During her maiden years, Kunti had served the ill tempered sage, Rishi Durvasa. As a reward, the mighty rishi taught a sacred mantra to invoke any Devas to bear powerful demigod sons with them. As a playful young maiden, she wanted to test the mantra, before her marriage and invoked the Sun god, SuryaDeva. This resulted her having her first child - Karna - whom she abandoned to regain social acceptance. Karna, later becomes the tragic antihero; who is one of the most phenomenal warriors of that time, charitable to a fault, loyal to his friend resulting to his utter demise.
This mix media painting, 14” x 28”, captures the inception moment of Karna.
Apologies for not uploading a high resolution image. Found out, people are downloading and using my creation. However, you can click on the image to zoom and see the detail of the brushworks.
Here's the 'Making of Kunti' on popular demand :)
I love this independent take on Kunti. Your colours always light up the room. Maybe this piece will face criticism from the conservative community but do not be discouraged. I wish Robi Thakur saw this work, would love to read his reactions. The lines from his immortal work come to mind:
ReplyDeleteবৎস, তোর জীবনের প্রথম প্রভাতে
পরিচয় করায়েছি তোরে বিশ্ব-সাথে
সেই আমি, আসিয়াছি ছাড়ি সর্ব লাজ
তোরে দিতে আপনার পরিচয় আজ।
Wishing you many accolades Chirantan. Keep breaking the barriers and social stigma.
Awesome
ReplyDeleteLoved the poetic interpretation of feminine strength and spiritual surrender and modern sensibility in this artwork.Though rooted in an epic character, it speaks in the language of contemporary emotion — fragmented, layered, expressive, and psychological. It invites the viewer not just to “see” Kunti but to feel her.One of the most beautiful aspects of this work is its ambiguity.
ReplyDeleteConceptual Framework: De-Mythologizing the Divine
ReplyDeleteThe core strength of this artwork lies in its raw, psychological vulnerability. While traditional Indian art often portrays characters from the Mahabharata with idealized, rigid divinity, Ghosh purposely peels back these layers to expose pure human fallibility.By capturing the fleeting, critical "inception moment" of Karna, the painting freezes a transition. It moves away from the classic epic narrative of a simple "mistake" or a "curiosity test" by a young girl. Instead, it re-centers Kunti as a multi-dimensional protagonist facing an overwhelming cosmic encounter, immediately followed by intense patriarchal and societal anxieties.
Looking forward to showcase the artist soon.
It is a delight to critique your work, Chirantan.
ReplyDeleteThe physical dimensions of the piece 14” x 28” establishes an elongated, portrait-oriented format that sets the stage for this intimate event.
The Celestial vs. The Earthly: This aspect ratio provides a natural structural division. On one side, we feel the immense weight of the divine solar presence (Surya), and on the other, the fragile, isolated human domain of a maiden.
The Inception Moment: The visual tension rests entirely on the point of impact where the sacred mantra meets the sun's energy. The layout prevents the scene from looking like a passive blessing. Instead, it frames it as an intense, life-altering spark that carries the heavy weight of Karna's tragic destiny.
Even if I leave aside the back story. The technique you have used of dividing the canvas into horizontal strips forces the viewer to focus on the story unfolding.
I wish you success not just for producing such fine artwork but also delivering these novel contemporary perspectives.
CG’s piece joins a rich tradition of modern artists who challenge orthodoxy. As noted in the local commentary, the work breaks past conservative stigmas by refusing to gloss over the taboo aspects of Kunti's youth.
ReplyDelete"Kunti: The Sun Worshipper" is a successful contemporary critique because it refuses to romanticize epic tragedy. By utilizing dynamic textures, dramatic horizontal spacing, and a profound understanding of psychological weight, Ghosh elevates a traditional mythological scene into a universal study of youth, consequence, and human vulnerability.
We eagerly look forward to this artist’s next work.
This is stunning.... Whatever little I have read of Mahabharata... It is one of my favourite epics... All the women characters are so powerful and they are all so human yet so strong... I love this painting... I love all your creations on canvas though but this one is stunning!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, awesome painting 👌👌😍😍
ReplyDeleteYour painting is so colorful💛💚💙💜 & meaningful.
Saw your video on Facebook about the making of this painting, it was very interesting. I really loved it when the black and white charcoal sketch got transformed into colour. The question you asked, should you have stopped painting at that stage? Yes and No. Love the present version with these amazing colours all over but I wish you kept one version, as it was then. It was very sensual, triggering raw emotions, yet powerful portrayal of a woman’s strength.
ReplyDeletePlease post the video here too.
This one of your best creations CG.
Un chef-d'œuvre de l'impressionnisme. L’esthétique est léchée, l’attitude est là... C’est d'un chic absolu sans jamais en faire trop. Le mood parisien par excellence. J'adore. ✨ #ChicParisien #Inspiration #MoodDuJour
ReplyDeleteBalance ta vidéo ici !