Page 102 - AstaGuru Masters Legacy April 2024

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Anjolie Ela Menon’s

Goat And Shepherd

Series

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Renowned modernist Anjolie Ela Menon’s introducing the modern Indian art world to
ever-evolving career spanning six decades the genre of kitsch. Her pastoral series is
has seen her tackle diverse themes and inspired by the studio she works out of in
subjects with exceptional technique. While Nizammudin and the sights surrounding it.
she has been inspired by artists such as Her observations and reinterpretations of
Amrita Sher-Gil, M. F. Husain, Vincent van the scenes she sees translate into iconic
Gogh, and Modigliani, she has crafted a imagery that is now synonymous with
style entirely her own. Her vibrant works deal Menon. The rural surroundings, especially
with an array of subjects including Biblical the goat herders and their goats have been
imagery, motherhood, the rich culture of a constant source of inspiration for Anjolie
India and rural life. during her career.

Her signature technique involves creating The Goat and Shepherd series is evidence
several translucent layers of oil paint on a of this, executed in the memory of the days
hard surface like masonite. Applied over before the pandemic struck. She draws
time, the painting develops an ink-wash parallels between the bearded faces of the
like effect that adds to the serenity and goat herders she paints and the protagonists
the underlying vein of melancholia present in Byzantine art. Also featured in the series
in most of her works. Her incredible use are women who clutch their children close,
of colour using oils has earned her repute again a reference to the mother-child
as a colourist and she is also credited with relationship that Menon holds so dear.