Over the past year artist Sarthak has been pouring over mythological scriptures, trying to find out more about the Nandi. Prod the artist a bit and he narrates various tales involving Lord Shiva and his vehicle. “It is a symbol of power. It is inspirational and devoted and as an artist I find its features fascinating. The bull has depicted by several artists before, but I almost felt compelled to sketch it,” says Sarthak, as he looked at an oil on canvas in shades of orange with a green Nandi slanting at the centre.

Exhibited at Fortune Art Gallery in Gurgaon, the work is now in Sarthak’s studio at Tara Apartments, where it occupies a corner along with several works featuring Nandi in different mediums, from soft pastel on paper in shades of yellow and burnt sienna with a tint of red and blue to a crayon on paper that has two Nandi bulls drawn on a yellow backdrop. “It represents Indian culture and that is the theme that I want to showcase through my work,” says Sarthak, who had his last solo at India Habitat Centre in 2004.

The 54-year-old’s objective is also reflected in his other works. While on one hand he has painted tribals, also part of his collection are ghagra-clad women and the forest greens of Sundarbans. “These are an outcome of various tours that I have taken around the country,” says Sarthak, rattling off his itinerary. If in 2005 he was in Nandankanan Sanctuary in Orissa, in 2007 he was in Neemghan in Madhya Pradesh and in March 2008 he spent several weeks in Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal.

“I often visit the villages around these places and stay with the residents. This enables me to understand their lifestyle,” says Sarthak who held his first solo exhibition in 1995 and was tutored in art by Abani Sen. “I remember travelling to his studio in Gol Market everyday,” says Sarthak, who worked in the marketing division of firm, before he decided to pursue art as a full-time occupation.