Parvathy Baul’s voice brings Jayasri Burman’s art to life, says SAKSHI PRIYA

The gentle murmur of water and the silent glow of distant stars create an atmosphere of quiet enchantment. Jayasri Burman’s latest exhibition, The Whisper of Water, The Song of Stars, at Art Alive Gallery, invites viewers into a world where nature and mythology come alive. This new body of work moves beyond the purely figurative into dreamlike landscapes filled with delicate textures and flowing forms.

Her canvases hold a sense of stillness yet breathe with life. Works like Cosmic Churn and Ocean’s Whisper echo the rhythms of nature, drawing viewers into a space where land and water meet. The use of shells and cowries does not feel ornamental but deeply symbolic, representing the fluidity of time and the weight of tradition. These natural elements settle into the layers of paint, grounding the works in something tactile, something ancient.

The softness in her palette stands out. Shades of deep blues, earthy browns and muted golds create a sense of harmony, as though each piece is bathed in the quiet glow of twilight. Weeping Grace carries an emotional depth that is felt rather than stated. Femininity here is not delicate but enduring, deeply connected to nature, ever-flowing like the tides.

This exhibition holds memory, echoes of childhood impressions and a silent dialogue between past and present. Jayasri Burman does not simply paint, she listens, to water, to the stars, to the spaces in between. The result is a body of work that invites reflection through quiet, persistent beauty. Until 28 February 2025, step into Art Alive Gallery and experience this world for yourself.

A Voice Full of Emotion

Parvathy Baul began to sing, her voice carrying the weight of centuries-old traditions. Dressed in saffron, she moved with effortless grace, her body swaying in rhythm with the soul-stirring notes of her ektara. Each verse felt like a whisper from another time, filling the space with a quiet intensity that held the audience captive.

Her voice, raw yet melodic, rose and fell like a river, flowing between longing and surrender. It was music that felt deeper, a calling, a prayer crafted into sound. Her eyes, lost in a world unseen, reflected the spirit of a seeker, as if she was not just performing but living each moment of her song.

Every movement of her hands, every beat of her duggi spoke of devotion. Silence held as much power as her singing, each pause stretching into something almost tangible. The audience sat motionless, as if afraid to break the spell she had cast.

As the final note faded, the room remained still, as though her voice refused to leave.

Living Mythology

Burman’s art has always been deeply rooted in tradition, but in this exhibition, she invites us to see mythology not as something distant and fixed but as a living, evolving entity. The figures in her paintings seem to emerge from the elements themselves, women rise from swirling waters, constellations seem to echo human longing and the landscapes are not just backdrops but active participants in a grander story. Each piece reflects a deeply human desire for connection: to nature, to the past, to something larger than oneself.

The Poetry of Art and Sound

Jayasri Burman’s paintings and Parvathy Baul’s music share a deep, poetic connection. Both artists draw from tradition yet reshape it into something personal and timeless. Burman’s visual storytelling unfolds in layers of colour and texture, much like Baul’s voice carries the weight of centuries through melody. Their art is not just an expression but an experience, inviting the viewer and listener to step into a world where mythology, nature and devotion come together. Whether through brushstrokes or music, their work creates a space of reflection, emotion and quiet transformation, reminding us that true artistry is not only seen or heard but felt.

Standing before the artwork, there is a quiet pull, colours merging like distant memories, textures whispering forgotten stories. The lines, the depth, the light, it all speaks, not in words, but in feeling and reflection