Purushottam by Sujata Achrekar | A Diary of a Curator

In this work, Purushottam, Sujata Achrekar (b. 1968) uses blue and yellow beyond mere colour application. Blue carries the boundless presence of Vishnu, suggesting depth, infinity, and cosmic calm. Yellow radiates light, awakening, and the warmth of consciousness. Together, they create a visual field where the divine and the human coexist.

The Lord Vishnu avatar is shown larger than life, reminding us of His scale. The divine is vast, yet it lives within the human form. Around this presence, figures, symbols, and motifs emerge gently, suggesting that every being carries a Purushottam within. The Ramayan has always reminded us that divinity is not distant. It exists within us through choice, conduct, and responsibility.

The Indian palette, rich in sacred blues, luminous yellows, and layered textures, gives a fresh dimension to the Vishnu avatar. Traditional forms dissolve into contemporary expression, allowing the image to move beyond mythology and enter lived experience.

This work asks a question central to the Ramayan. If the divine lives within us, how do we choose to act upon it. The answer is left to the viewer, for the betterment of oneself, and for the betterment of others.