Threshold Art Gallery presents Myth-making and Divine Animals, a group show featuring works from artists Anindita Bhattacharya, Avishek Sen, Debjani Bhardwaj, Dilip Ranade, Gulam M. Sheikh, K.G. Subramanyan, Tarshito N. Strippoli and V. Ramesh.
Myths and legends are amongst the most potent examples of the power of storytelling and its enduring ability to transmit history and wisdom, and shape human culture. The early civilisations worshipped animals, nature and the elements; ascribing to them qualities and powers to help explain the mysteries of the physical world. As a result, the narratives of these cultures are replete with animal gods and every manner of human-animal hybrid one can imagine. Their folk tales wove stories around the importance of animals and emphasised how entire ecosystems depended on a mutual respect between humans and nature.
While some regard such myths and legends as ancient or dormant, many view them as contemporary and “alive”; constantly changing as we carry them with us through the ages. A reflection of our own evolving comprehension of the world and our place in it.
Each of the artists revisit myths in their own practices – creating a renewed perspective for today’s generations to rediscover the inherent, but perhaps, forgotten divinity encoded within flora and fauna.