Lot Essay
The paintings of G.R. Santosh and Biren D/ae (see lot 89) are prime examples of Neo-Tantrism, an artistic movement originated by the artist, K.C.S. Paniker in the 1960's. The artists were inspired by Hindu, Buddhist and Jain concepts of dualities between male and female and between macro- and microcosm. Santosh's painting is neither abstract nor representational but highly reminiscent of Indian religious imagery involving yantras, mandalas, chakras, and the lokapurusha (cosmic man). Biren D/ae, however, used geometric forms and the juxtapositions of color and light to embody notions of shakti, or the pure energies of a universal life force.