A Print from Saundarya Lahiri 1974

Akkitham Narayanan made this print from Saundarya Lahiri using a kind of earthy green ink, with hints of orange and red peeking through. I imagine the artist carefully layering the colours, building up the image bit by bit, almost like constructing a puzzle. Looking at the network of lines and shapes, I sympathize with the artist as he built this. It's like he's drawing a map of an unknown place or maybe inventing a secret code. The textures are so tactile, they seem to invite touch. The way the ink sits on the surface gives it a real physical presence. There’s a push and pull, an expansion of mark-making. I’m reminded of Tantric art and its use of geometric forms to represent cosmic principles. It makes you think about how artists are always in conversation, borrowing ideas and techniques across time and cultures. It's painting as an ongoing exchange.