Two classical artists explore the connection between stage and canvas

Ram Sundar Ranganathan and Himanshu Srivastava in their ‘Sangam’ show. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

On a cool November evening, visitors who stepped into India Habitat Centre, Delhi’s arts and culture hub for a painting exhibition, were treated to the rhythmic strains of Indian classical music.

Appropriately, Hindustani singer Ram Sundar Ranganathan and Bharatanatyam dancer Himanshu Srivastava came together for Sangam, a three-day exhibition held at the open Palm Court Gallery. There were 35 works on display in the gallery, with an equal focus on the duo’s artistic journeys. Ram, disciple of Pandit. Tejpal Singh and Shanti Sharma are from Indore family. Himanshu has also been expressing his creative ideas through both dance and painting.

Ram said, “We may be experts in different art forms but we wanted to present our works as a unit.” “It’s two sides of the same coin, like yin and yang Male And NatureTwo aspects of our existence.

Ram’s work ‘Amirkhani’, a tribute to Ustad Amir Khan. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Himanshu agreed, “They say, an artist always has an inspiration. For us, it was another art form that was parallelly thriving within us.

Rama’s Saptasvara, a series of oil-on-canvas attempts to interpret ragas“In my works, you can see an animal or a musical instrument. For a musician, a note is as good as a god. When you meditate on this, you don’t need to pray. Bhava Is nirguna (Based on the belief in a formless deity),” he said.

While most of the pieces are dear to Ram, there is an artwork called ‘Amirkhani’ which has a story behind it. While most tanpuras have four strings, the tanpura used by Ustad Amir Khan, the founder of Indore Gharana, had six strings. “The sound was beautiful and it was very special to him and his family. My teacher. Pt. Tejpal had also gifted me a six-stringed Tanpura on Basant Panchami two years ago. This is the core of my music.”

On the other hand, Himanshu’s works are Sagun – They have characteristics or qualities. Mythical entities and figures appear in his lines, highlighting a distinct understanding of the spiritual self.

“Both my grandfather and father were Sanskrit scholars. They will describe the beauty of Indian culture through mythology. My grandfather used to narrate stories, while my father would tell me the exact meaning behind them,” recalled Himanshu, who also has a doctorate degree for his thesis linking Indian painting and dance.

From Himanshu’s Radha-Krishna series. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Himanshu’s art highlights the rebellion within him. There are no limits – be it in the subjects they choose or the content they choose.

One of his works, messenger riverPart of the Radha-Krishna series, it uses sand, acrylic and plaster of Paris to depict the river that acts as the ‘messenger’ between Krishna and Krishna. Gopi.

Another series is dedicated to Andal, the saint-poet of South India who has fascinated Himanshu for a long time. His faith and devotion towards Vishnu merged him with God at an early age. “This is a confluence Very different level. She would string a rosary for God every day, wear it and then send it to God through her father,” he explained.

Ram and Himanshu wrote many other narratives – ranging from celestial bodies to iconography and Hindu deities. His way of looking at melody and tempo.