Hailing from a small town in India, Vivek focuses his artwork around the icon of the majestic Indian Bull. Born in 1977, Vivek Kumavat did his graduation in Fine Arts from the prestigious Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai and is currently based out of Mumbai. The Bull holds a significant place in Indian mythology as the ‘vahana’ or the vehicle of Lord Shiva and is an auspicious icon as a guardian deity and a symbol of truth and justice. The form of the bull in Vivek’s paintings indicates power and immense strength, while the faces have a gentle demeanor exuding a calm and patient aura.
He explains, “'I have observed that a bull is warm, gentle, passionate and friendly animal, until it is provoked to be ferocious; quiet similar to human attitude in the society.” Interestingly, even in Indian mythology the Nandi is an anthropomorphic figure, half man- half bull, a combination of strength and sensibility. The majestic Indian Bull stands as a metaphor for human endurance, both physical and mental.
Vivek believes that it is the magnetic structure of a bull which attracts positive auras and energies in the spaces it is kept. Even though the his canvases are centered around one primary motif, each piece is unique in the intricate detailing on the bull’s body with minute characters and tales of mythology. The colour palette used touches upon colours that have been used in ancient Indian painting.