The KYNKYNY Art Gallery in Bangalore announced an incredible solo exhibition christened “Stardust, Moonshine & I” by the contemporary artist Priyanka Aelay. The exhibition will be on view from November 29 to December 26, 2025. This solo visual showcase will teleport viewers into the ultimate realm of the artist’s imaginative world, well sequenced through segments. The collection will feature the fine work of acrylic on linen canvases; the themes draw inspiration from ancient forests, the ebb and flow of folklore, the mooncycles, and also intrigue a speculative quotient that traces the border between the real and the imagined. Her work synchronizes three crucial factors encompassing intellect, storytelling, and visual transcendence.
About KYNKYNY Art Gallery
The gallery was founded in 2004 by Namu Kini and Vivek Radhakrishnan. The KYNKYNY Art Gallery has been instrumental in making contemporary Indian art accessible to diverse audiences. Over two decades, the gallery has showcased more than 300 artists and shipped artworks across the globe, maintaining a strong commitment to authenticity and artistic excellence.
Forests as Living Metaphors
The forest in Priyanka’s paintings represents the subject and stands as a metaphor as well. The forest, as a physical entity, is way more than an abundant breathing ecosystem; the entity holds spirits, secrets, stories, and symbols that connect us to nature. Priyanka’s forest landscapes are her signature. She paints the landscape as a lively arena comprising enticing terrains that are populated by foxes, tigers, birds, and other botanical beings. By deploying a fine layer of acrylic on linen, she successfully highlights the material representation of the imagined spaces. This is the reflection of a co-living in harmony with no frictions involved.
Folklore, Myth, and Artist’s Perception
Her artistic practice basically stems from her academic research in film studies and visual culture. This intellectual exploration has induced a high sense of fascination in her concerning popular folklore and myth, and ultimately drove her into the jungle’s mysterious domain where the folklore and the myth confide. She engages with popular South Indian folklore, such as the widely dramatized “Baalanagamma,” in which the protagonists traverse wild forests guided by nature’s spirit. The fluidity of nature in her paintings is featured by reflecting skies, underwater flora (imitating the terrestrial forest in aquatic media), etc., which hints at the interdependence of lives, offering a transient retreat to the human eye.
Techniques Rooted in Indian Miniature Tradition
Rooted in the techniques of Indian miniature, Priyanka’s paintings often exhibit a manipulation of transparency and opacity that signifies a ‘transitional’ state. This is skillfully depicted through scenes of dawn and dusk, wakefulness and sleep, and the shadow and illumination. It results in a painting that makes the viewer experience movement and stillness at a time. Hitherto, her work mostly involved social themes; however, her current focus seems to have shifted to a deeper inward sentiment, towards nature, mythology, and memory. Each painting ought to leave an imprint on the hearts of the spectators.
Exhibition Details
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title | Stardust, Moonshine & I |
| Artist | Priyanka Aelay |
| Gallery | KYNKYNY Art Gallery |
| Dates | 29 November – 26 December 2025 |
| Venue | 104 Embassy Square, 148 Infantry Road, Bangalore |
| Timings | Monday – Saturday, 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Closed Sundays) |
| Admission | Free Entry |
Key Highlights
- A continuation of Aelay’s exploration of forests as narrative landscapes.
- Layered acrylic pigments create immersive, multidimensional compositions.
- Incorporation of lunar symbolism to frame storytelling in cyclical, feminine forms.
- Influenced by her academic study of visual culture and South Indian folk narratives.
- Harmonious merging of multiple ecosystems to represent the unity of life.
- Symbolic fauna serve as metaphors for human emotions and presence.
- Echoes of Indian miniature painting through refined colour systems and botanical precision.
- Works that invite viewers to interpret, wander, and reflect through detail-rich compositions.
Takeaway
It is truly worth noting that Priyanka’s ability to weave scholarship, memory, and imagination into her canvases is fundamental to her existence as an artist. This connection builds an intimate nexus with the spectators, the moment their eyes fall upon the canvas. Also, with the pleasing depiction of natural elements through a fresh lens, her canvases exhibit a cohesive force that will make people remain glued to them. Her work is refreshing, and the elements forming the core theme are consciously chosen and intricately executed. Her paintings function as a medium that resurrects the human bond with nature and dissipates the message of peaceful coexistence. This is a must-see exhibition, a moment of visual retreat that cements KYNKYNY Art Gallery’s commitment to presenting contemporary Indian art.
