Divine Energy

The paintings of G.R. Santosh and Biren De (see lot 321) 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 De, 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.