Eternal Heritage,’ – Banaras, Where Timeless Traditions Inspire Art by Paramesh Paul

Uchaan Arts unveils ‘Eternal Heritage,’ – Banaras, Where Timeless Traditions Inspire Art by Paramesh Paul an evocative art exhibition that delves into the timeless charm and spiritual depth of Banaras, as seen through the masterful eyes of self-taught artist Paramesh Paul. The exhibition will run from 5th to 8th September 2024 at Open Palm Court, India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. This extraordinary showcase captures the essence of one of the world’s most ancient cities, offering a profound journey to the heart of India’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
‘Eternal Heritage’, unfolds the timeless charm and spiritual depth of Banaras through the eyes of Paramesh Paul. It takes you on a journey into one of the most ancient cities, reaching the core of the country and the essence of spirituality, where the ancient ghats and temples stand as testaments to a heritage that transcends the ages.

This exhibition celebrates the spiritual depth of Banaras, revealing how its ancient traditions continue to shape and inspire contemporary life. This exploration highlights how the city’s eternal charm offers a window into the continuity of spiritual and cultural practices that define its unique identity.

Born in 1970 in a rural village in West Bengal, Paramesh’s early life was shaped by a rich tradition of pottery and craft. His earliest move towards developing artistic senses was to create clay sculptures of gods. He now draws inspiration from traditional Hindu iconography and symbols, such as the Nandi bull, Lord Shiva, the Ganges river, the ghats, and the sacred temples of the Banaras city. Filled with mythology-inspired imagery, his vivid and vibrant paintings are a meeting of two worlds, where materiality echoes his metaphysical bond.

The cultural and historical etchings in the aesthetic representation of the Nandi are the vein of Paramesh’s conscious engagements with his surroundings. Also, his invocation to the Nandi is symbolic of his spiritual pilgrimage, when he can witness religion, culture, history, and the transcendental world in the current moment.

Later on, his experience of living in big cities gave him the realization of the complexity of modern life. Through his works, he analyses and investigates life, looks deeper into the relationship of people with nature, with religious emotion, and how ordinary people transcend themselves from the bondage of day-to-day mundane existence and project themselves toward a higher spiritual ideal.

What has remained unchanged throughout Paul’s artistic journey is his commitment to imagery that everyone can relate to on a deeper level. According to Paul, ‘Painting should be easily communicable to ordinary people. Most of my paintings are made up of multiple layers that are transcendental and mystical.’ In this project, he is very successful. His works are, no doubt, subjective and grow out of his very personal love for life. For this purpose, Paramesh often takes up the religious centers of the country as his subject. He is greatly in love with Varanasi. Haridwar, Rishikesh, and other religious places also appear frequently in his paintings. He also has a predilection for looking at life around the river. Water appears as a dominant theme in his painting, especially the river Ganges.