Acrylic on Canvas
2 x 3 feet
2021
Avalokitesvara is the earthly embodiment of the eternal self-born Amitabha Buddha. He guards you against shipwrecks, fires, assassins, robbers and wild beasts. He is commonly depicted in the form of the white Sahashrabhuja Lokesvara, with eleven heads and one thousand hands.
White Tara is Avalokitesvara’s female consort, born from the tears of his left eye. White Tara is a great representation of Avalokitesvara's immense compassion and love.
Mukesh Shrestha, the artist, created this work to alleviate the pain of all beings, including those of viewers and the artist himself, and to support them in walking the road of self-liberation.
The message that the artist tries to send out through this painting is that we can achieve happiness and balance out the predisposition to despair by practicing compassion, generosity, and gratitude.
It has been years since our deities have been painted in traditional styles. Mukesh Shrestha dares to break tradition and ventures into contemporary portrayal of deities with his charcoal sketching and acrylic painting. This is the union of the two compassionate deities of Vajrayan Buddhism - Avalokiteswor and White Tara.
The lean well exercised body, strong muscle definition, and intense intimacy portrayed in abstract expressionism is in tune with today’s generation. After all, each generation, brings to the contemplation of art its own demand and appreciation.
