Black Cube presents Thota Vaikuntam's 'Dancing Shiva', at Art Mumbai 2024, from 14 to 17 November. The booth will showcase Vaikuntam's paintings, sculptures, prints and mixed media works.
At Art Mumbai 2024, Black Cube proudly presents Dancing Shiva, a solo booth showcasing the works of renowned Indian artist Thota Vaikuntam. This vibrant collection features a dynamic range of paintings, sculptures, and mixed media works, all inspired by the iconic imagery of Shiva Nataraja—Lord of the Dance.
Two unique Shiva bronzes will be showcased, including one large work that stands at 5 feet tall. These bronzes have been produced at the highest quality by the artist in one of the finest foundries in the UK. Vaikuntam’s interpretations of Nataraja are a tribute to Shiva’s cosmic role as the creator, preserver, and destroyer of the universe. His work captures the energy and wildness of Shiva's Tandava, the cosmic dance that both manifests and dissolves the universe. This energy is vividly conveyed through the extravagance of Shiva’s flowing locks, symbolic of the chaotic and uncontrollable forces that drive the cosmos, and through the surrounding halo of flames, which represents the eternal cycle of time.
The imagery of Shiva as Nataraja, a figure first seen in Indian stone temple sculpture as early as the 5th century CE, has become one of the most enduring symbols. However, the more familiar bronze representation, with Shiva dancing within a flaming halo (prabha mandala), emerged during the Chola dynasty in the 10th century. In Vaikuntam’s bronze sculptures, this classical form is reimagined with contemporary influences, while still holding true to the symbolic elements: Shiva’s drum (damaru), signalling creation; the fire in his left hand, representing destruction; the abhaya mudrathat allays fear; and the dwarf demon Apasmara beneath his foot, symbolizing the ignorance that must be overcome to achieve enlightenment.
Vaikuntam's artistic style brings together tradition and modernity, blending the classical iconography of Nataraja with the bold colours and attire of South Indian cultural heritage. The vibrant costumes and dynamic postures of classical dance forms are central to Vaikuntam’s vision, underscoring the divine energy that Shiva embodies. His skillful use of colour, texture, and regional symbolism lends an unmistakable vitality to each work, heightening the spiritual and artistic resonance of Shiva’s dance.
The imagery of Shiva Nataraja is not only a representation of cosmic forces but also a profound metaphor for the dance of life itself. Each aspect of the figure—the hand gestures, the rhythmic beat of the damaru, the ever-burning fire, and the flowing motion of Shiva’s hair—creates a symbolic narrative of destruction and renewal. This timeless portrayal of divine power and cosmic order has inspired artists across the centuries, and in Vaikuntam’s hands, it is reinvigorated with a fresh, modern sensibility.
The booth will also showcase a unique watch with a cloisonne enamel painted dial created in collaboration with Deguiret, a custom swiss watchmaker.
In Dancing Shiva, Black Cube’s booth at Art Mumbai 2024, Vaikuntam captures the spiritual transcendence and artistic beauty of Lord Shiva's eternal dance, offering viewers a glimpse into the vibrant interplay between tradition and contemporary artistic expression.
