Exploring Jayasri Burman’s ‘The Whisper of Water, The Song of Stars’

Jayasri Burman’s ongoing solo exhibition, The Whisper of Water, The Song of Stars at Art Alive Gallery builds upon her continuing investigation into the theme of water’s multifaceted symbolism and its spiritual, cultural, and environmental significance. This thematic inquiry began in 2021 with her River of Faith series, which references the sacred Ganges River.

The Whisper of Water, The Song of Stars brings together two distinct series—Weeping Grace, and Ocean’s Whisperers—each consisting of multiple works that collectively engage with the theme of water, with most pieces created between 2022 and 2024. The exhibition is punctuated by writings from the artist, curators, art critics and art historians, which reflect on how Burman visually explores the core tenets of cultural ecofeminism, emphasizing the interconnectedness of femininity, nature, and ecological consciousness.

Weeping Gace Series

The?Weeping Grace?series, initiated in 2022, began predominantly in black and white, embodying a stark, emotive intensity. In 2024, it evolved into a lively explosion of vibrant colors, reflecting a deepening complexity in Burman's exploration of the theme. Here, Burman merges terrestrial and oceanic imagery, creating an organic surrealism that blurs the line between the natural and the fantastical.

Five intimate monochromatic works from 2022 (Weeping Grace xvii, xiv, xiii, xv, xvi) infused with washes of peach, pink, and earthy tones, depict Burman’s mythical mermaids holding auspicious objects—dove, conch shell, fish, pot, and lotus stem—surrounded by symbolic elements like swans, lotuses, and seashells.

A striking large-scale piece (Weeping Grace xii) from the same year depicts a goddess holding a conch shell and lotus flowers, her wings extending into swans, set against a dense coral reef backdrop. These compositions blend mythological iconography with natural symbolism, imbuing each figure with layered meanings of fertility, purity, and transformation.

The eleven works in the?Weeping Grace?series from 2024 onwards transition to vibrant color, incorporating underwater motifs such as sea shells, conches, pearls, and cowries. These elements are reimagined as they emerge from tree branches instead of traditional foliage or scatter across the seabed like treasured relics. This thematic evolution extends to the mystical nymphs’ attire, where drapes and jewelry are adorned with oceanic iconographies.

Except for Weeping Grace v (oil on canvas), the remaining works are executed in watercolor, pen, and ink on paper. These magical, mythical figures—clutching conches, pearls, cowrie garlands, lotuses, and shell trees—exude a commanding presence as they sit, float, and gaze directly at the viewer, asserting their roles as divine guardians of the ocean, and sea, and river, and all bodies of water. As discussed by Burman in an interview, it alludes to the myth of Samudra Manthana, where goddess Lakshmi rises from the Paatal Lok, and the ground is scattered with cowries, symbolizing life and its sacred, generative forces.

Ocean’s Whisperers Series

The twenty works in?Ocean’s Whisperers?series mark a notable shift in Burman’s visual language. Departing from the iconic figures she is known for, Burman explores new aesthetic territories through a collection of abstract still-life studies. With this body of work, Burman also expands her artistic lexicon by incorporating diverse materials, ranging from pen and ink, clay, and watercolor to mixed-media collages on canvas.

In Ocean’s Whisperers i, ii, iii, iv, x, xi, and xviii, Burman explores various types of mollusc?shells through a monochromatic palette of pen and ink, watercolor, and clay on shikishi board, creating fluid, restrained compositions.

In contrast, Ocean’s Whisperers xii and xiii introduce a tactile dimension, incorporating collaged mixed media with physical shells, adding texture and a more direct, tactile connection to the oceanic world. In Burman’s fantastical world, the shells become potent symbols of ecological urgency. They embody humanity’s responsibility to safeguard the fragile ecosystems that exist beneath the surface of the sea, urging a deeper awareness of the often-overlooked realms of nature and the complex interdependence that sustains them.

In this latest body of work, Burman draws from childhood memories of collecting shells and cowries during holidays at the Digha and Puri beaches, surrendering to the whispers of the sea. Through this personal lens, she conjures a world of mysterious depth with an underlying message of the significance of coexisting with nature and its intricate, fragile systems. For those yearning for the sea, this exhibition offers a transcendent encounter, bringing the essence of the ocean to the heart of Delhi.

Venue: Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi

Dates: January 18 to February 28, 2025

Image Courtesy of Jaysri Burman: https://www.jayasriburman.com/about.html

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