Pandemic Mythmaking: COVID-19 and Mythological Symbolism in Indian Folk Art

Authors

Ishani Anwesha Joshi, National Institute of Technology TiruchirappalliFollow
Sathyaraj Venkatesan, National Institute of Technology, TiruchirappalliFollow

Abstract

Through a comprehensive analysis of Durga Bai Vyam’s “Samura Manthan” and Rupsona and Bahadur Chitrakar’s “Corona Rakshasa,” this article aims to investigate how mythological stories and themes have been used in the Indian context in folk art during the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation will offer insights into how artists have leveraged mythological symbolism to infuse their works with richer layers of meaning, thereby engaging readers in a deeper exploration of the pandemic’s impact on society and the human psyche. By close-reading the aforementioned paintings, this study aims to illustrate the evolving visual representation of cultural narratives surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring the ways in which mythology interweaves with contemporary themes and its impact on shaping the artistic discourse in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

ORCID ID

0000-0001-5850-8788