Surya and Sangya (The story of the sun and his wife)

Surya and Sangya depicts a story in which Sangya, the daughter of a sage and the goddess of clouds, is married to the sun, Surya. At first she is very happy, but she becomes frightened when Surya’s heat becomes too great as his power and arrogance grows. She runs away from him and takes the form of a horse roaming the earth. He searches for her and also becomes a horse so he may go near her. During this time they fall in love once again and remain as husband and wife.

Dating from at least the 14th Century, Mithila painting and drawing was traditionally practised by women in the Mithila region of Bihar in northern India and Nepal.

Mithila works are characterised by intricate line drawing, geometric patterns and elaborate symbolism — fish represent fertility, peacocks are associated with love, and serpents with divinity. For centuries it was used to mark rituals and ceremonies, particularly weddings, and created mostly on the walls of people’s homes.

Pushpa Kumari (India b.1969) retains the distinctive styles and conventions of Mithila painting while addressing new subjects such as women’s rights in India.

Exhibited in 'The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art' (APT8) | 21 Nov 2015 – 10 Apr 2016