Exhibition Article: Tantra, Over the Sex — Rounak Rai’s Bold Contemporary Invocation of the Sacred Feminine
Venue: Sala Espositiva Mark Rothko, Università degli Artisti, Pietralunga, Italy
Curated by: Pietro Franesi
Opening: Saturday, 19th April 2025 – 8 PM
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In his powerful solo exhibition “Tantra, Over the Sex,” Indian contemporary artist Rounak Rai redefines the conversation between spirituality, sexuality, and sacred geometry through a body of work that is both meditative and provocative. Presented at the prestigious Mark Rothko Exhibition Hall in Pietralunga, Italy, the show draws deeply from Indian esoteric traditions while merging it with a strikingly modern visual language.
This exhibition is not merely about sex—it transcends it. Tantra here is not presented in its misunderstood sensual connotation, but rather as a spiritual ascent—an ancient system of awakening energy, balancing the divine masculine and feminine forces, and reaching a higher state of consciousness. Rai harnesses this idea and filters it through a prism of symbolism, geometry, folk influences, and metaphysical forms to create a spiritual dialogue between body and cosmos.
A Journey Through the Sacred Portal
The central artwork featured in the exhibition’s promotional material is emblematic of Rai’s conceptual and stylistic intent. At first glance, the composition is abstract, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a yoni—the divine symbol of feminine energy—crafted through geometric abstraction and surrounded by dynamic color fields and cosmic lines. The structure is not anatomical, but alchemical. Triangles, circles, spirals, and intersecting lines reference the Sri Yantra, chakra systems, and kundalini energy, all fundamental concepts in Tantric philosophy.
What’s striking is Rai’s use of a color-coded energy map. Each zone pulses with symbolic intent—
Red for Shakti, the power of transformation.
White for purity and awakening.
Yellow for intuition and divine intellect.
Green for growth and heart-centered connection.
Black and violet for mystery, death, and rebirth.
These hues aren’t merely decorative; they act as emotional triggers and energetic signifiers, leading the viewer from the physical to the metaphysical. The effect is one of both contemplation and confrontation.
The Modern Tantric Visual Language
What distinguishes Rounak Rai’s approach is how he synthesizes traditional Indian visuality with a postmodern global aesthetic. His lines are obsessive, almost meditative, echoing miniature painting techniques but with the rebellious freedom of contemporary drawing. Rai doesn’t imitate folk art—he absorbs its spirit. The result is not religious, but spiritual; not moralistic, but deeply ethical and honest.
His art is steeped in tribal forms, tantric symbology, and ritualistic motifs, yet it challenges binaries—sex/spirit, male/female, sacred/profane. The show invites viewers into a sacred interior, a temple of personal truth, where sex becomes a metaphor for union with the absolute.
Curatorial Vision and International Dialogue
Curated by renowned Italian curator Pietro Franesi, the exhibition is a compelling choice for a European audience increasingly drawn to Eastern philosophies and transcultural dialogues. Franesi positions Rai not only as a painter but as a philosopher of form, translating ancient energies into the visual language of today.
“Tantra, Over the Sex” is both an art exhibition and a meditative encounter. It asks us to reconsider our relationship with desire, with the sacred, and with our bodies as vessels of universal energy. It reclaims Tantra from cliché, placing it back into the space of awe, surrender, and transcendence.
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Rounak Rai’s work is a reminder that the future of contemporary art lies not only in innovation but in reconnection—to heritage, to the self, and to a universe where spirit and sex are not separate, but one.
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For RSVP or more information, contact the curator Pietro Franesi at +39 347 27 59 471.
Exhibition promoted by PTU.
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