The Exploration of Neo-Tantrism in the Paintings of Prfulla Mohanti

Abstract

The time period 'Neo Tantra' turned into coined via way of means of an Artist  to explain the paintings who stated the sacred geometry of Tantra as an concept for his or her visible language. Neo Tantrism emerged with inside in the 1960’s like the paintings of K. C.S. Paniker, Biren De, G.R. Santosh, P. T. Reddy etc. Pannikar’s works profoundly 'Words and Symbols,' wherein the artist integrated astrological elements, calligraphic paperwork stimulated via way of means of Tamil script and two-dimensional tantric diagrams to expound the idea of team spirit thru imagery associated with mantras or cosmic vibrations and sounds. This movement has inspired several artists. Prafulla Mohanti is one of them who have explored the nuances of Neo-Tantrism in his paintings.This study investigates and explores the aspects of Neo-Tantrism in his artist output. Via adopting content analysis and a review based approach this paper open up his artistic journey in an exploratory manner.

Tantra is a frame of ideals and practices that permits people to conjoin with tons. It provides tools that facilitate transcendence are omnipresent for folks that are attuned: rituals, drawings, maps, sculptures, and chants, to call only a few [1]. Brought into the sector in 1936 in Odisha, Prafulla Mohanti completed his commencement from Bombay University, and in a while were given a Diploma round Planning from Leeds University with inside the UK, wherein he moreover had his first unbiased show of works of artwork in pretty a while. The effect of his foundation and young people encounters may be visible evidently in his craft. It is the rehashed exercise of creating circles with dust chalk at the floor that has delicate his capabilities and now no longer completely to attract remarkable pictures, but moreover incredible his penmanship, for the contents of the two Odia and English. The vermillion spot of his mom's forehead were given meditated in his growing and sunset, preventing darkish purple tone with inside the sky, and the circle converted into the universe or brahmanda. The theoretical variations of his arts cape comprise the Bindu or Speck, implying Shunya, skimming blue mists, and the blue sea. The craftsman has had some shows in lots of areas of the planet which includes Europe, America, Japan and India. His creative creations were vital for some global voyaging shows coordinated through National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. His works are with inside the collection of The British Museum at London, Leeds City Art Gallery, Wakefield City Art Gallery, Brighton Art Gallery, University of Leeds, University of Sussex, University of Kent, Museum of Modern Art at Berkeley, Academy of Fine Arts at Kolkata, Air India, First National City Bank at Manila, Indian Council for Cultural Relations, the National Gallery of Modern Art and Lalit Kala Academy.

In this study procedure, the researcher goes to evaluate the Style and Content of the Tantric Art Form as an Artist. The overall approach of this study is qualitative. The research tools of Formalism and content analysis have been utilized to explore the artistic notion of Prafulla Mohanti.

The term 'Neo Tantra' became coined with the aid of using the idea to explain the paintings of artists who recounted the sacred different geometrical forms of Tantra as an idea for his or her visible language. Neo Tantrism emerged modern Tantra indicates a way to exercise the historic Pagan religious machine of Tantra for extra freedom, health, and happiness [2]. Encouraging growth, experimentation, and private evolution via physical activities and meditations, Modern Tantra is a brand new have a take observe a time-venerated religious path. Mr. Mohanti became a part of the Neo-Tantra group. He has made artwork for the reason that age of three: his portray is rooted in his village culture, that's prompted with the aid of using yoga and Tantra. Art is part of each day's existence. The lotus is the primary symbol. The lotus of my formative years has passed through modifications via abstraction, from a circle to a point. Absolute abstraction makes it disappear [3]. From this nothingness, existence starts off evolved once more and turns into everything, the full universe.’

The term 'Neo Tantra' became coined with the aid of using the idea to explain the paintings of artists with sacred geometrical forms. And it becomes a language of artistic expression. 1960s to '70s was very crucial for Indian artists. These decades have been noticed as the heavy dominance of western art movements. So, Indigenous art movement emerged in India to counter western influence on Indian art [4]. Tantra and Neo-Tantrism were one of them. With the help of this theoretical framework, artists have tried to explore the indigenous notion in their artworks. Prafulla Mohanti has also adopted this ideal framework to express his inner-self. Through this, he has tried to connect and transcend indigenous cultural fragrance. His paintings are geometrical and simplified which contents color symbolism. His paintings also explore the aspects of formalism and significant form.