Three Spaces: a solo exhibition by Mayank Shyam

Three Spaces, a solo exhibition by contemporary Gond artist Mayank Shyam, will be presented at Ojas Art, New Delhi, from September 3 to October 1. The exhibition features more than 30 paintings and explores three interconnected realms — paatal, dharti, aakash (the netherworld, earth and sky) — through the artist’s engagement with Gond mythology, nature, memory and contemporary life.

The exhibition traces Shyam’s artistic evolution and his movement beyond the visual language associated with his father, the legendary Gond artist Jangarh Singh Shyam. While deeply influenced by his cultural inheritance, Mayank developed an individual practice that brought urban landscapes and contemporary experiences into dialogue with Pardhan Gond stories and mythology.

His works combine fluid forms, detailed linework and rhythmic patterns to create visual narratives rooted in Gond cosmology and the natural world. Forests, animals, celestial beings and ecological relationships recur throughout his practice, reflecting an understanding of the interconnectedness between humans, nature and the spiritual world.

For Three Spaces, Shyam has created a special series using natural materials, including different types of soil and colours made from leaves. These works further his interest in experimentation while retaining the storytelling traditions and cultural knowledge at the heart of his practice.

Shyam’s artistic journey began at an early age in an environment shaped by storytelling and painting. He chose not to replicate the style of Jangarh Kalam and instead developed his own visual vocabulary, initially drawing on the urban environment around him before exploring the myths and stories of Pardhan Gond culture more deeply.

The exhibition brings together works representing different stages of Shyam’s practice while highlighting his continuing exploration of new materials, subjects and visual idioms.

When: September 3–October 1

Where: Ojas Art, New Delhi