Varanasi: A three-day solo exhibition by artist Subhash Chandra, titled ‘Life Death Liberation in Banaras Ghat’ began at Bharat Kala Bhawan, BHU on Tuesday, offering visitors a visual exploration of the ghats of Varanasi as both a physical landscape and a metaphysical journey.The inaugural programme was attended by BHU VC Prof Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi and Bharat Kala Bhawan director Prof Sreerup Raychaudhuri. The exhibition has been curated by Suresh Chandra Jangid, assistant professor at the Faculty of Visual Arts.Featuring 16 major works, the exhibition is inspired by the concept of Kashi as a bridge between the material and spiritual worlds. Through his paintings, Chandra explores the interconnected themes of life, death and liberation, portraying the emotional and symbolic dimensions of Banaras’ ghats, particularly the cremation grounds and the rhythms of everyday life unfolding alongside them. The body of work was developed during his time as a student at BHU’s Faculty of Visual Arts.The exhibition includes paintings titled Ghat, Life Beyond Life, Shiv and Nandi, Banaras: All About Liberation, Moksh, Salvation Boat—depicting the Ganga flowing through the map of Banaras as the carrier of salvation—Banaras Sadhu, portraying ascetics with matted hair tied in the form of a Shivling, and Pind Daan.One of the highlights of the exhibition is Mrityu, a triptych depicting the journey from death to moksha. Across the collection, Chandra experiments with diverse media, including oil on canvas, mixed media, oil and acrylic on canvas, and acrylic on paper, blending dusky and vibrant tones to reflect the spiritual and cultural essence of Banaras.
