Vivek Kumavat

Vivek Kumavat brings to life the sacred and symbolic through his devoted exploration of the Nandi bull calf - a creature he sees as the embodiment of strength, devotion, and peace. Raised in a small town where domesticated animals were part of daily life, Vivek developed a lifelong fascination with the bull, drawn to its physical endurance, gentle spirit, and deep-rooted significance in Hindu mythology.

Within the silhouette of a joyful, dancing Nandi, Vivek intricately paints entire mythological narratives: tales of Shiva’s marriage to Parvati, the creation of Ganesh, and the sacred bond between Shiva and his gatekeeper, Nandi.

These stories are not laid out as literal illustrations, but rather unfold gradually across the body of the bull, revealed through countless miniature figures and vignettes. His work draws on Pattachitra, the traditional scroll-painting form of Odisha and Bengal, using fine brushes to capture detailed folklore within contemporary forms.

For Vivek, painting Nandi is an act of homage, a way to channel childhood wonder, cultural memory, and spiritual inquiry into a vivid, living language of art. His bulls, with their noble gestures and prancing bodies, echo human resilience and joy.