Lavanya

German artist Hendrik Beikirch creates works of documentary and fictional portraiture that traverse the personal and the private. His work portrays genuine characters with a sheer force of personality, made all the more fascinating by their anonymity. The reduced colour palette and striking contrasts that characterize Beikirch’s portraiture highlight the vulnerability of his subjects, while the scale of these works invites viewers to consider the relationship between an individual and society, viewer and subject, public and private. Beikirch’s murals are not impositions on the urban landscape as much as they are silent companions, reminders of our common humanity and representations of both actual individuals and the diverse populations of the modern city. At once anonymous, quotidian and enchanting in appearance, each of Beikirch’s figures has a story to tell.

This is the portrait of Vimla, a lady who works at Old Khanna Market in Lodhi Colony, where she sells paranthas (Indian bread) on the streets. Executed just in shades of grey, the painting is meant to merge into its surroundings, seeking an aesthetic similar to an old etching. Captivated by her sense of independence and dedication, Hendrik dedicates the piece to women who have several struggles in their lives and have to perform multiple roles, yet maintain the utmost grace in all their endeavours. The mural is also a reminder to seek beauty in the ordinary.