THE SACRED GAZE STORY:
सुमनसां रङ्गमाला या, जीवनस्य उत्सवा शुभा। बटुकम्मा प्रफुल्ला या, स्त्रीशक्तेः गौरवा कथा॥
"పుష్పాల రంగుల హారమై, జీవనోత్సవం శుభమై। బతుకమ్మ పుష్పించెను, స్త్రీశక్తి గౌరవ గాథై॥”
A garland of blossoms, a sacred celebration of life, Bathukamma blooms bright, telling tales of feminine pride."
About artwork:
THE SACRED GAZE (Bathukamma)
Artist: Thota Vaikuntam
The Figures:
Bathukamma is a vibrant floral festival celebrated predominantly in Telangana, India, honoring the spirit of womanhood and the beauty of nature. The word Bathukamma means "Mother Goddess come alive," and the festival is a tribute to Goddess Gauri. Women gather to create stunning arrangements of seasonal flowers stacked in a conical shape, symbolizing prosperity and joy.
Thota Vaikuntam, both an artist and a sculptor, is part of a larger Indian avant-garde movement. In creating his Telangana women, characterized by their intrinsic upward or direct gaze, he employs postmodernist techniques of appropriation and observation while drawing from contemporary lifestyles to shape his artistic identity.
The "Sacred Gaze" emerges from the rituals and celebrations of Telangana's state festival, Bathukamma, which coincides with Navratri celebrations. These sculptures pay homage to modern women, likened to the goddess of life Bathukamma. Over nine days of celebration, women build shrines made from flowers and turmeric, dedicated to the goddess.
These vibrantly painted sculptures remind us of the harvest season, a celebration of cultural festivities across the Indian subcontinent, wherein one offers gratitude to the gods and celebrate the gift of life.
This public art initiative brings to life the striking Telangana Lady Head sculptures of Thota Vaikuntam, a recurring subject that has become central to the artist's rich and enduring practice. Bold, dignified, and deeply rooted in cultural memory, these imposing forms seek to offer the public not just a visual experience, but a moment of connection-open, accessible, and resonant.
Despite India's deep artistic heritage, public art remains surprisingly scarce. Vaikuntam, whose work has long celebrated the spirit of rural Telangana, understands the vital importance of inclusivity in art. He believes that art belongs not just in galleries or private collections, but in shared spaces-where it can be encountered by all, regardless of background or education.
Art speaks a universal language. It stirs something innate within us-a sensitivity we are all born with, a recognition of shared stories and values. It bridges divides, offers new ways of seeing, and evokes a sense of belonging that transcends boundaries.
Vaikuntam's vision is rooted in generosity. With this initiative, he extends his work to the wider world, driven by a simple yet profound desire: to make art a part of everyday life. These sculptures stand not only as powerful aesthetic statements, statement but as beacons of cultural identity.