Strength in Devotion

Shimpi strategically distinguishes between the two by creating different colour stories of the two concepts. For the paintings in the Shakti section,he uses splashes of red and for the Bhakti section he uses various shades of blue.

“A lot of hard work,off the canvas,was required for the paintings of Shivaji Maharaj,which is oil on canvas. But for the Bhakti paintings,I had used spray paints,a rare technique these days,” says Shimpi. The spray paint gives a smooth and dreamy finish to the paintings of Meera Bai and Krishna as well as the saints,he says.

Putting together an exhibition devoted to bringing about a distinction between strength and devotion that results in harmony,Shimpi had to pay close attention to detail. The carvings on the arches of the palace,the details on the throne of Shivaji Maharaj and even the attire of the people gathered in the courtroom are a result of tireless hours of research through books and websites. “For the Bhakti paintings,I freely used my imagination to give form to mythological stories we have grown up with,” he says.

The exhibition “Bhakti-Shakti” is on display at Darpan Art Gallery,S B Road,till June 4