Of Pharaohs & Himalayas: Inside Shabir Hussain Santosh's vivid world of myth & metaphor

Women are a constant in Shabir Hussain Santosh’s strikingly colourful, profoundly mystical paintings, on display at the Shridharani Gallery in Triveni Kala Sangam, Delhi. The artist faintly chuckles when asked who these women are. 

“Women are the creators,” he puts it simply. Another running thread is nature. “It’s because I love the trees, birds, and animals,” he adds.

While the two are constant in the paintings displayed as a part of Santosh’s solo exhibition, presented by Sanchit Art, what threads them together is mythology. 

“I’m deeply inspired by mythology,” says Santosh about the idea behind the title of the exhibit—‘Beyond Myth & Metaphor’. 

“I read a lot of mythologies—Kashmiri, Indian, and even Egyptian,” he says. The artist speaks fondly of his homeland, Kashmir. Notably, Santosh’s father, the celebrated painter Ghulam Rasool Santosh, was much known for his works inspired by Shaivism in Kashmir.

“Sage Kashyapa came from Kashmir. It’s also where Kalhana wrote Rajtarangini centuries ago,” the artist highlights.

Although Santosh emphasises the importance of remaining connected with one’s roots, his works exhibit some striking foreign influences too. In one such painting, the Egyptian influence is evident from the colour scheme, with copious use of the colour blue, to elements of the pharaoh attire, and also cats. 

“While many consider cats as inauspicious, I find them very mysterious,” the artist comments.

What also stands out is the colour scheme employed by Santosh, which is no less than stunning, as he enhances the mysticism in his storytelling multifold. “My father had a major impact on teaching me that,” he says.

In one of his paintings, the interplay between red, orange, and black is such that it speaks to you, even makes you uneasy. 

“I made it around Covid, which came as a rude shock. I lost many of my close friends, so I was depressed. Hence, the painting was a spontaneous act. I used red, which I wouldn’t call anger but it’s that not-a-good feeling. Then there are orange and black, which are vibrant yet mysterious colours. And they came together to create a spiritual blend.”

“Through these paintings, I’ve tried creating my own stories,” Santosh concludes. 

‘Beyond Myth & Metaphor’ by Shabir Hussain Santosh will be on display at the Triveni Kala Sangam, Delhi, from April 23-30.

Society