Shunyata: Art That Pauses Time, Says Russian Envoy
New Delhi: The Russian House in New Delhi was abuzz with cultural resonance on May 22, 2025, as Denis Alipov, the Russian Ambassador to India, inaugurated “Shunyata,” an evocative art exhibition by Indian artist, poet, and diplomat Abhay K. The event drew a diverse crowd, including Venezuela’s Ambassador Capaya Rodriguez Gonzalez, Dr. Elena Remizova, the head of the Rosscotrudnichestvo, Representative Office in India, Indian cultural figures, diplomats, artists, journalists, and students.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Alipov described “Shunyata” as a profound invitation to pause and reflect, rooted in the Buddhist philosophy of Shunyata, or emptiness. “These paintings create space — space to feel, to reflect, to simply pause,” he said, praising the muted tones and incomplete forms that define Abhay K.’s watercolour canvases. He noted that the exhibition, a visual reflection on emptiness as a source of form and internal movement, doesn’t impose meaning but invites viewers to discover their own. “What touches me most is how personal this work feels. It doesn’t seek applause. It seeks presence. It offers the viewer an atmosphere — a gentle nudge toward stillness in a world that rarely stops,” Alipov added. He emphasised that the works require a thoughtful look, with outlines born from emptiness revealing themselves only in silence and concentration. Quoting the philosopher Nagarjuna, Alipov highlighted the exhibition’s philosophical depth: “Emptiness wrongly grasped is like picking up a poisonous snake by the wrong end.” In Abhay’s work, however, “Shunyata is not something to fear — it is an invitation to explore.”
Alipov also celebrated Abhay K.’s multifaceted persona, calling him a “diplomat, poet, painter, thinker, and a devoted researcher of the ancient wisdom of Nalanda.” He described the artist’s ability to move between these roles with “quiet integrity and a sense of purpose,” creating works that feel deeply personal yet universally resonant. “This exhibition is a gesture of friendship, of shared quiet, of connection through contemplation. And how fitting that such a gesture is offered by someone who embodies dialogue between cultures — between India and Russia, poetry and diplomacy, tradition and contemporary expression,” Alipov said, underscoring the cultural bridge Abhay’s work represents.
“Shunyata” explores the Buddhist concept of emptiness through multi-layered watercolour canvases that demand a thoughtful gaze. The artist subtly conveys his idea of emptiness as a source of form, with outlines emerging only through concentrated observation.
Abhay K. shared that his inspiration stemmed from his research for his book Nalanda: How it Changed the World. He discovered that the philosophy of Shunyata, imparted by Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara to Shariputra at Rajagriha — Abhay’s hometown — could guide one from ignorance to enlightenment. “This profound philosophy can help heal the world,” he said.
The exhibition, a visual meditation on absence and potential, runs at the Russian House until May 31, open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Visitors are invited to experience the silence and depth of Abhay K.’s work, a bridge between tradition and contemporary expression.
– global bihari bureau
