Scripts as form of Art

Helen Scalway

At first sight the paintings of Jagmohan Bangani entice with their jeweled, patterned appearance. But there is more to them: or rather, they show us that pattern itself can offer powerful effects. Pattern, repetition, turns into rhythm, into chant, into mantra. Bangani speaks of his work as arising like mantras, repeated chanted prayers ‘chanted on the canvas with my brushes and my colours’. Certainly his work has the rhythmic effect of chanting, of intense prayer. He writes about transforming text into visual works of art:‘Mantras are basic components of Indian culture and religion. They are written in Sanskrit, believed to be the oldest language of the world. There are thousands of Gods and Goddesses in Hindu belief and each one has a relevant mantra. People chant mantras on every occasion, whether related to some family worship or
a public ceremony. My art practice involves using different religious texts repetitively over the canvas surface.