Incorrect Statement: The figures in the mural relate to each other through a chaotic network of lines.
The figures relate to each other through a rhythmic network of lines, not a chaotic one.
The Lives of Medieval Saints, a mural in Hindi Bhavana, Shantiniketan, was created by Benode Behari Mukherjee around the eve of India’s Independence from Colonial rule, during 1946–1947. The mural employs the technique of fresco buono and covers almost 23 metre of the entire upper half of the three walls of the room. Mukherjee skillfully reminds us of the syncretic and tolerant tradition of Indian life as found in the teachings of great Bhakti poets like Ramanuja, Kabir, Tulsidas, Surdas and others. Despite his poor eyesight, the artist sketched directly on the walls without compositional sketches. The Lives of Medieval Saints was painted in modern style, where each figure is created with bare minimum lines. At the same time, each figure relates with its neighbour by way of rhythmic network of lines. In some ways, the mural reminds us of a painted woven tapestry, a profession that many of these saints belonged to. He was one of the earliest artists in modern India to realise the potential of a mural to become public art. |
