A Glance At The Majestic Glances Cast By SL Haldankar's Creations
If you're a novice at the art admiration thing - we have got your back. Today we are bringing an eye feast that is perfect to get you addicted to the very existence of art.
Capturing glances of ordinary people in just the perfect moment, this artist's paintings will sweep you off your feet in a beautifully gentle motion. If you find yourself wondering how people stare at paintings very steadily for a long time, these works of art will help you experience just why that happens.
Here are some of Sawlaram Haldankar's captivating creations :
1) Glow of Hope (1945-46)
Also known as 'Woman with the Lamp', Glow of Hope is Haldankar's most famous painting.
What makes it so special is how personal it is to the artist. The woman in the painting is his own daughter Gita Haldankar who once wore a brand new saree for the festival of Diwali and excitedly rushed to show her outfit to her father. Whilst walking towards his father, the young girl was holding a lamp and sheltering the flame with one hand to keep it from going out. Inspired by this, Haldankar made his daughter stand for more than three hours as she eternalised herself in the form of this masterpiece.
It is extraordinary how the painting manages to capture the young girl so profoundly. The flame is not visible as it is being sheltered by Gita's hand, and the light reflects upon the girl's face, emphasizing her expression. In a way, she is the flame herself, the larger than life shadow around her accentuating her glow. Haldankar portrays a feminist angle through his painting - talking about a woman's extraordinary power and potential. We are directed straight at the woman's face as the light of the lamp prominently shines upon it. This leads us to her eyes - which is the main focus of this painting. The glance she casts is one of a young girl blossoming into a woman. There are some remnants of gullibility transitioning into womanly wisdom - all of which is reflected through her eyes. It's almost like Haldankar got struck with the realisation that his little girl was growing up into a beautiful and intelligent woman and he captured this fatherly pride and a man’s awe into The Glow of Hope.
2) Muslim Pilgrimage
The entirety of this painting reflects an ordinary person basking in ethereal contentment. Such are the emotions of any man on a spiritual expedition where he encounters forces bigger than himself. This person in Haldankar's Muslim Pilgrimage, wearing a black Muslim cap, bundled up in mismatched loose shawls, and carrying a makeshift bundle or potli on his back, is as ordinary as can be. His reddish-brown beard adds to his commoner aura, and therefore he is just like any other pilgrim travelling to a place of worship away from his home. What makes this painting so extraordinary is the understated grandeur which accompanies this man. His red shawl stands out from the rest of his outfit of muted colours. His arms and hands show a certain amount of vigour - which symbolises the strength of a pilgrim's spirit and their dedication as they make a long journey to a place their faith resides in. His gaze is soft and there is a hint of a smile on his face which showcases spiritual contentment despite his anticipation for reaching the destination. These last two elements bind the entire work together rendering the ordinary man as an epitome of holiness.
3) Untitled (Lady in a Garden)
4) Untitled (1930s)
Saving our personal favourite for the end, this underrated and untitled painting by Haldankar is absolutely impossible to ignore.With a fully formed yet thinner beard, Haldankar has showcased a man who seems to have recently abandoned the charm of his boyhood. With his head resting on a rather uncomfortable bar, it appears that he has paused in the middle of some task. Whether he works in construction or farming, this man sure has his duties and obligations which he appears to wish to escape due to the forlorn look in his eyes. His tilted head and nostalgic eyes showcase him being deep in thought and away from the realities of the very real physical world he seems to be standing in the middle of.Is this a man who has already abandoned a dream? Or is he right in the middle of deciding to reach out for bigger things? Is he missing the carefree days when he used to run around in the hills as a young boy? What is he thinking that is appearing in the form of such longing in his eyes? What will he do after this moment ends? Will he let go of whatever tool he's holding and run towards what he longs? Or does he long for what he has already lost? Maybe he will continue working after all.That is the beauty of this painting - You want to know it all, but you never will.
The Unsung Genius Transforming Everyday Observations to Tangible Pieces of Realistic Beauty
The characters of SL Haldankar's creations gazing right at the vast expanse of life. Each reflects an extraordinary emotion of a common human entity and leaves a majestically addicting impression.
We sure can't stop staring at this artist's works. Can you? Let us know in the comments.
Written by Ravgun Kaur
Buy on Whatsapp
Leave a comment