Odisha with Prafulla Mohanti

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Odisha with Prafulla Mohanti

Portraying India

Perceptions of India, inspired by the lives of those who embody its most authentic spirit

In this edition, we journey to Odisha through the meditative world of Prafulla Mohanti

The land of Odisha has long been a canvas for artistic expression, where painting, dance, and storytelling are deeply woven into daily life. To be born into this world of colour and rhythm is to inherit a creative legacy, but to carry it beyond borders and reimagine it for new audiences is a rare gift.
This gift belongs to Prafulla Mohanti. From Odisha to London, his work carries echoes of the village life he knew as a child, naturally blending its rhythmic connection to nature with the modern influences of the world he later stepped into. This cultural backdrop instilled in him an appreciation for the integration of art into everyday life, a theme that permeates all his work. Whether through his paintings, architecture, or writings, Prafulla’s work returns, again and again, to the stories and spirit of the place he comes from.
A Life Between Two Worlds

Born in a small riverside village of Nanpur, Prafulla Mohanti grew up in an environment untouched by modern conveniences – no electricity, no proper roads, and no clocks to measure time. His earliest classroom was a villager’s verandah (porch), where at the age of three, he was taught to draw three circles representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh – symbols that carried deep philosophical and spiritual meanings. This first lesson quietly anchored his lifelong creative journey.

After studying architecture in Mumbai, he moved to Leeds, England, at the age of 24. It was during these years abroad that he turned to painting, using bright colours to counteract the greyness of his adopted home. Alongside his architectural practice, Prafulla held his first exhibition and began experimenting with dance, yoga, and movement, weaving these influences into both his art and writing. Though he has lived in England since the 1960s, he returns to his village every year, where he runs a school and supports village development.

Circles of Continuity
Though trained as an architect and planner, he found painting to be the most intuitive way to express what words and structures could not. For Prafulla Mohanti, painting is a spiritual necessity and his works are meditative spaces, where bold reds, blues, and yellows come together in concentric circles, geometric forms, and rhythmic patterns. The circular motifs in his paintings are not decorative; they symbolize the Bindu, the point of origin in Hindu and Tantric philosophy, embodying the vast, expanding cosmos and the cyclical nature of existence.
At the heart of his work is the Indian philosophical concept of Shunya – emptiness, silence, or the infinite void. Through repetition and abstraction, he captures this stillness, transforming it into a visual experience. His paintings invite reflection, drawing the viewer into an unfolding continuum of time, space, and consciousness.

“I looked forward to the festivals and ceremonies. They were full of colour and movement. The characters in the all-night plays intrigued me. The music and dancing inspired me to participate. I instinctively started to draw and paint on the walls and floors at religious festivals.”

— Prafulla Mohanti
A Language of His Own

Prafulla Mohanti has expanded the language of art and identity, bringing Odisha’s spirit into global conversations. His writings, like My Village, My Life, offers rare, personal insights into rural India, shaping how migration and belonging are understood. In London, contributions to urban planning brought fresh cultural perspectives into city design. Each medium – painting, writing, architecture – became a way to explore identity, memory, and transformation.

His painting Kalika has been acquired by the British Museum, ensuring his presence in global art history. As one of the longest-serving Indian artists in the UK, Prafulla continues to engage in cultural dialogues. His work remains a quiet force, shaping conversations on identity, home, and belonging across borders.

If you’re in and around London, you can explore Prafulla Mohanti’s abstract paintings from the 1960s to the 1990s, blending traditional Indian motifs with modern abstraction.

ANANDA

April 4–May 10, 2025
Pilar Corrias Gallery, London

Discovering Odisha
Odisha is a region where traditions continue to shape daily life. The ancient temples shape the city’s rhythm, markets thrive with time-honoured crafts, and coastal traditions influence food and festivals. Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Puri form a cultural triangle, each with a distinct character with one rooted in heritage, another in craftsmanship, and the third in seafaring legacies. The true essence of Odisha is found in its workshops, kitchens, and streets where traditions thrive.
Marvel at the Sun Temple of Konark
The Konark Sun Temple in Odisha is a masterwork of 13th-century Kalinga architecture, meticulously crafted to resemble the Sun God’s celestial Rath (chariot). A closer look at the Chakras (wheels) reveals spokes that work as sundials, with each marking a time of day in ancient India’s way of measuring time.
Learn the Art of Shaping Silver in Cuttack
Step into the filigree workshops of Cuttack and watch artisans shape silver into intricate designs. The process is mesmerizing as the artisan twists delicate silver threads into delicate patterns to transform them into exquisite jewelry. The work is done using tools and techniques unique to the region, making it a sought-after craft in local markets and beyond.
Trace Odisha’s Pattachitra Art
Pattachitra is a traditional art form of Odisha where artisans paint detailed mythological scenes on cloth or palm leaves. The art is known for its vivid colors, precise line work, and religious themes, and it feels like witnessing a culture unfolding before you. This art is showcased in workshops and local markets throughout the state.
Cook and Savor Authentic Odia Cuisine
Join a local cook in Odisha for an immersive culinary experience. From grinding spices to preparing seasonal dishes like Dalma and Pakhala, the experience is as much about the aromas as it is about the techniques. Discover the flavours and cultural significance behind these age-old recipes, all made with locally sourced ingredients.
Recommendations for Further Exploration
To Watch
Artist Prafulla Mohanti dancing to articulate his painting ‘Shiva’ (1985)
A documentary on Prafulla Mohanti

To Read
Shunya: Prafulla Mohanti, Paintings
My Village, My Life by Prafulla Mohanti
Changing Village, Changing Life by Prafulla Mohanti

At Tushita, we marvel at India with you. After 45 years of travelling the country, we’re still enamoured by its beauty every day. From Ladakh, where Tushita was anointed by a Buddhist monk in 1977, to Tamil Nadu, where we worked with locals to showcase one of the oldest cultures in the world, we are partners in your journey to discover our part of the world.

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