“Storytelling thrives on imagination. Images touch the heart and become sensations, sensations trigger memories, memories create meaning and meaning leads to listener action.” – Diane F. Wyzga
What is Gangadhar Bandanavar’s ‘Sutradhar’?
‘Sutradhar’ is a narrator or storyteller who holds the narrative thread, guiding the audience through the unfolding events. He is an escort and interpreter, bridging the gap between the characters and the spectators. In the exhibition titled ‘Sutradhara’, the artist Gangadhar Bandanavar has played a central role in upholding the flow and course of the story, offering context and milieu, and providing insights, being a key figure in mythological visual storytelling.
What is Gangadhar Bandanavar’s ‘Sutradhar’s Style?
Gangadhar Bandanavar has blended technology and his paintings initiating a new realm of creativity, amalgamating traditional style with modern innovation. He has tried to create a harmonious synergy. Sensorial tools amplify his creativity, allowing hand-painted leather to merge seamlessly with unconventional presentation. This fusion in ‘Sutradhar’ preserves the soul of manual artistry while embracing the precision and versatility of the contemporary approach, creating art pieces which are both appealing and futuristic.
Blending sensor lights and music with painting creates an immersive and interactive art experience. This fusion allows paintings to come alive, with sensor-activated lights highlighting specific areas of the artwork, synchronized with tabla enhancing the playful sway. The installations respond to viewer movements, creating a dynamic visual effect. This innovative approach merges technology and traditional knack, offering a multi-sensory rendezvous that converts static paintings into captivating, evolving experiences. Experimentation with lighting effects, vivid illumination and interactive elements, has enhanced the artistic expression and redefines the boundaries of visual storytelling. The collaborative session even made the Chief Guests play the rhythmic beats over tabla fixed with sensors, sing along with it and enjoy the melody with flickering lights.
What Facets of Hindu Mythology are Present in ‘Sutradhar’?
In Hindu mythology, Hanuman, the monkey god, is notable for his strength, devotion, and intelligence; he is frequently portrayed in Indian art, aiding and serving Lord Rama in the Ramayana. He can be seen in Gangadhar’s artworks in vibrant, dynamic poses, embodying the anecdotes of wisdom, courage, and protection. The scenes like Lanka vs Kishkinda, Ram Setu, Yuddha Kanda and Hunger of Kapisena, have been portrayed with archetypal and cultural connotations, in an exceptional style of merging mythology with artistic storytelling. Dahan has been expressed through an installation in the shape of a matchbox where a matchstick can be rotated to unwind a scroll with religious illustrations, as well as through a rope hanging from a ceiling to the floor.
Painting on leather is an art form practised in various cultures, combining craftsmanship with creativity. Puppetry and painting often overlap as artistic mediums to narrate stories and mirror certain ethnicities. Puppets whether shadow or string, are adorned with intricate paintings to bring characters to life, often inspired by mythical or folkloric themes. Paintings depict passages with musical instruments replacing the head, just the legs of the craftsman noticeable, hands managing the strings of puppets, celebrating the storytelling tradition while conserving its cultural essence through visual art. Mythological stories often weave intricate narratives like the one of sleeping Kumbakaran, by bringing together multiple characters, each with unique dispositions and roles like poking his mouth with a javelin, pulling strings on his foot and using drums and hooters to wake him up. These characters interact in complex ways, driving stories from every corner. Their interconnected arrangements and connexions construct layered plots, rich with symbolism, where the artist interlaces the concept, crafting timeless tales of human and celestial experiences.
Art Celebs at Gangadhar Bandanavar’s Solo!
Gangadhar Bandanavar has been a winner of the Chandrikaben Shukla Prashasti Award for Artists 2024 by Hina Bhatt Art Foundation. ‘Sutradhara’- the solo exhibition, which was held under the same banner, was inaugurated by eminent artists Pa Sa Kumar-Chairman, Karnataka Lalithkala Akademi, Bangalore; with Gurudas Shenoy as the Chief Guest of the event, and presided over by Hina Bhatt- Director, Hina Bhatt Art Foundation. Other distinguished personalities who shared the dais were CS Krishna Setty- Former Chairman of Central Lalitkala Akademi, New Delhi and Kiran Bagade- a renowned art critic.
Image Courtesy – Alka Chadha Harpalani
Alka is an artist and art writer with a diverse career spanning teaching, e-learning projects with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), and editorial work. An alum of the Government College of Art, Chandigarh (BFA) and Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (MFA, PhD), she has been recognised with numerous prestigious awards and honours.
