A distinct aspect of Appam Raghava’s artwork is the strong colour palette he uses to explore the bhakti bhava (devotion) of Hanuman, through the ‘Story of Invincible’ series. The artist who works from his studio in Amangal, Mahbubnagar district, Telangana, is showcasing paintings, sculptures and installations at OneDot6, a gallery and store owned by interior designers and architects Aamir and Hameeda Sharma in Hyderabad.
The paintings and sculptures are head turners. A fibreglass sculpture of Hanuman is mounted on an acrylic painting in which the artist narrates chapters from Hanuman’s story - his leap towards the sun as a child, assuming that the sun was a giant ball; the events that occurred when he crossed paths with Surya and Indra; Hanuman carrying the Sanjeevani mountain, and later seeking blessings from Rama and Sita.
Raghava conceptualised the series four years ago, intending to portray Hanuman’s devotion to Rama as a manifestation of Dasya Bhakti and Padasevana. This is the artist’s first full-fledged series inspired by mythology: “My earlier artworks, since 1996, were on social themes and also reflected tribal life. In later years I wanted to explore mythological narratives.”
