WONDERLAND ROUND RUG

ABOUT SERIES:

Panchabhoota

The Panchabhoota, or the five elements, constitute the fundamental components of all matter in Hindu philosophy. These elements are Agni (fire), Bhoomi (earth), Aakaasha (sky), Vaayu (wind), and Varuna (water). Signifying essential aspects in Vastu Shastra, Yoga, Ayurveda, and aesthetics, they draw parallels to the classical elements of Hellenistic philosophy, embodying an intrinsic connection between all beings. Each element possesses distinct characteristics, symbolizing various facets of human behavior and experiences. In ancient Hindu thought, each element was personified as a deity with its own iconography, facilitating an understanding of nature through symbolism and mythology.

ABOUT ARTIST:

Dr. Vijay Siddramappa Hagargundgi

Born in 1957 in Gulbarga, Vijay Siddramappa Hagargundgi received his formal education in art from the Ideal Fine Art Society’s MMK College of Visual Art in Karnataka and proceeded to study further with a scholarship at Santiniketan. Jaded by the excesses of modernism and abstract expressionism that were then en vogue, he returned to his roots to explore traditional aesthetics. He was trained in the techniques of ‘miniature’ painting under Dwarka Prasad Sharma in Jaipur; techniques that he employs in his practice to date. The Surpur murals painted in the style of the Vijayanagar school had a lasting impact on Dr. Hagargundgi as he developed his own visual language. His works revolve around representations and reimaginings of traditional and mythological narratives and iconographies. 

Often credited for reviving the Surpur style of painting, Dr. Hagargundgi is the recipient of several awards including the Karnataka Lalit Kala Akademi Award, the AIFACS Award by the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, and the Mallikarjuna Mansur Foundation Award. Dr. Hagargundgi has exhibited widely both within India and abroad, and he lives and works in Gulbarga, Karnataka.