Sun 11 Jan | 2pm – 5pm | £11.55
About the Session
In an age shaped by constant visual stimulation, rapid image consumption, and uninterrupted engagement with digital media, traditional Indian art offers a profoundly different way of seeing—one that is slow, inward, and contemplative. Rather than competing for attention, it gently disciplines perception and invites sustained awareness.
This academic-cum-practical session explores the contemplative visual language of Ajanta, situating it within its Śāstric foundations while reflecting on its relevance for contemporary life. Moving seamlessly between theory and practice, the programme demonstrates how classical Indian aesthetic systems function not merely as artistic frameworks, but as disciplines of attention, perception, and mental steadiness.
Session Structure
Part I — Academic Talk
The session opens with an illustrated academic presentation on Śāstric principles of Tāla–Māna / Pramāṇa—the classical systems of proportion and measurement that shaped Indian visual culture. These principles are examined not simply as technical prescriptions, but as conceptual structures that cultivate balance, rhythm, and disciplined seeing, influencing both the artist’s inner state and the viewer’s experience.
Part II — Demonstration & Contemplative Drawing Workshop
The focus then shifts to a guided demonstration and hands-on drawing workshop inspired by Ajanta ceiling compositions and contemplative motifs. Participants are introduced to lotus forms, rhythmic foliage, and geometric–organic patterns characteristic of the Ajanta murals. Historically, these motifs were designed to slow perception, gently guide the eye, and support meditative awareness rather than visual excitement.
The workshop emphasises a deliberate slowness of hand and eye, sensitivity to rhythm, spacing, and repetition, and an experiential understanding of mental stillness through form and process. This is not an exercise in copying, but a reflective engagement with traditional motifs as a lived visual practice. All materials will be provided, and no prior drawing experience is required.
Ajanta Motifs and Contemplation
Unlike modern imagery that constantly vies for attention, Ajanta’s motifs function as visual anchors for stillness. Their repetitive yet subtly varied forms encourage sustained observation, allowing the mind to settle into quiet focus. In today’s overstimulated environment—dominated by scrolling, notifications, and fragmented attention—such visual systems offer a meaningful counter-practice. Drawing Ajanta-inspired motifs becomes an intentional withdrawal from digital distraction, replacing passive consumption with mindful creation.
Why This Session Matters Today
This programme invites participants to engage with Indian art not only as visual heritage, but as a contemplative and experiential practice. It offers a structured way to step back from digital overload while gaining insight into how traditional Śāstric frameworks can nurture attention, clarity, and inner balance in contemporary life.
About the Artists & Educators
Ms. M. Jindal is an artist-educator engaged in the study and teaching of classical Indian art principles. She will present the academic introduction on Śāstric concepts of Tāla–Māna / Pramāṇa, supported by visual slides and conceptual illustrations.
Dr. Sindhu Saraswathy is an artist, researcher, and the author of four books on Ajanta paintings: From Nāṭyaśāstra to Ajanta: The Evolution of Aesthetic Consciousness, The Third Dimension at Ajanta, Ajanta Unfolded: Flora, Fauna and Figures, and The Class-less Woman of Ajanta – Remembering the Serenity of a Forgotten World. Her work bridges Śāstric theory, close visual analysis, and studio-based practice, with sustained research on Ajanta’s contemplative motifs and ceiling compositions. She will lead the demonstration and hands-on drawing workshop.
Who Should Attend
This session is open to art students, practitioners, educators, researchers, and members of the public interested in Indian art, aesthetics, and contemplative visual practices.
