PEAKLIFE

Bengaluru’s art lovers are in for a sublime visual treat, as Jay Varma, a fifth-generation descendent of Raja Ravi Varma showcases his debut solo show titled ‘The Primacy of 5’—a series that highlights five female characters from the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata through intricate life-like portraits—on display at gallery g from 17th to 30th April.

Jay Varma is the recipient of the largest grant given out by the Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation to further his artistic education.

Presented by Sandeep & Gitanjali Maini Foundation, the series focuses on the theme of ‘panchkanyas’. The artist’s representation of the panchkanyas closely resembles the women that he grew up observing and hearing about. The paintings that comprise the show include some of the artist’s earliest works and are created in a variety of mediums ranging from color pencil work to graphite, which is how the artist started his career, and culminating with oil paintings. All the works were commissioned for private collectors around the globe and are for display only.

‘Pillars Within’ by Jay Varma

The art conveys the idea that these women may also exist around us, in our homes and real-world circumstances, and prompts the viewers to perceive them from a renewed gaze. Popular myth acknowledges that the kanyas include Ahalya, Draupadi, Tara, and Mandodari; but the fifth name varies. Some legends state that it is Tara, wife of Brishaspati (in addition to the other Tara, consort of Vali); others hold it to be Kunti, mother of the Pandavas; and yet others venerate Sita as the fifth kanya. The artist has chosen to depict the kanyas as Ahalya, Draupadi, Sita, Tara, and Mandodari.

‘Ahalya’ by Jay Varma

Legend states that reciting the names of the five virgins or panchkanyas can absolve the worst of human sins. By exploring the identity and individual tales of the kanyas, the artwork invites visitors to engage with these fascinating characters from two of the subcontinent’s most venerated texts. A total of 13 paintings by the artist will be on display at Bengaluru’s gallery g until 30th April 2022.