Conceptual Canvases: The Subconscious Struggle
Large-format acrylic paintings exploring ancestral memory, tribal heritage, and the unspoken struggles of modern life.
A full view of my large-scale triptych, 'Contribution of tribes in contemporary art.' This piece uses multiple figures, some with the woven texture, to narrate a story of community, knowledge, and resilience against a backdrop of collective history.
A detail from a larger conceptual work, this image highlights the fusion of human form with the woven bamboo texture. The piece explores themes of identity and connection to heritage, with the submerged head and floating lotus adding layers of surreal symbolism.
This close-up of a central figure from one of my narrative paintings shows a woman rendered with a blend of realism and my tribal weave motif. Her direct gaze and the pot she carries symbolize strength, sustenance, and the enduring spirit of our ancestors.
A detailed composition from my 'Bhaarat Maata' series, this acrylic on canvas brings together multiple figures in a scene of learning and community. The central woman in the red saree stands as a pillar of strength, surrounded by others engaged in various activities, representing the multifaceted nature of our culture.
Titled 'Valorous,' this 36 by 40-inch acrylic on canvas depicts a bull rendered in the woven bamboo style, resting in a stark, red-hued landscape. The artwork is a meditation on strength, endurance, and the quiet dignity found in struggle.
'Divine Intervention,' a 4 by 3-foot acrylic on canvas, captures the harrowing experience of actor Shreyas Talpade's cardiac arrest. The piece contrasts the chaos of the city and hospital with a mythological reference to Savitri and Satyavan, exploring the thin line between life and death.
This is the complete canvas of my painting 'Divine Intervention.' The composition is split between the earthly chaos of traffic and the surreal, divine space where human and celestial figures merge, telling a story of love, resilience, and hope.
Titled 'Thick headed,' this 36 by 48-inch acrylic painting from 2023 presents a dreamlike waterscape. The work juxtaposes figures and boats in a surreal narrative about perception and the journeys we undertake, both physically and mentally.
This 48 by 72-inch acrylic on canvas, titled 'Future,' imagines a world where nature and tradition persist in a changed landscape. The turtle figure, a recurring symbol of endurance in my work, navigates toward a future where the past is memorialized.
'Sovereign,' a 48 by 36-inch acrylic painting, portrays a tribal figure against a modern cityscape, separated by barbed wire. The work is a commentary on the displacement of indigenous cultures and the assertion of identity in the face of urbanization.
About Conceptual Canvases: The Subconscious Struggle
My signature 'woven texture' technique involves applying heavy-body acrylics to mimic the bamboo and palm leaf patterns of my village heritage. These pieces are created on archival-grade, 10-12 oz heavy-duty canvas, designed to carry the weight of their narratives and the longevity required for a serious collection.
Every painting in this series is an attempt to bridge the gap between my formal education at Sir J.J. School of Art and the vanishing crafts of my ancestors. In works like 'Sovereign' or 'Valorous,' you will notice the figures are not merely painted but built with a distinct, interlaced texture that replicates traditional basket weaving.
This is a slow, deliberate process. I use acrylics because they allow for the depth and layering necessary to build these physical textures. When you commission a piece, we discuss not just the subject, but the story you want to memorialize on the canvas.
These large-format works, ranging up to 48x72 inches, are shipped as rolled canvas in industrial-strength PVC pipes to ensure the structural integrity of the paint layers. Whether you are looking at a mythological reinterpretation like my 'Divine Intervention' or a social commentary piece, my goal is to provide a work that invites quiet contemplation of our collective past and individual struggles.
Pratap Badtya
I studied at Sir J.J. School of Art, but my hands still recall the bamboo weaving of my village. I paint to keep those fading memories alive, using deep textures to talk about the internal struggles we all carry.
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