Aadhujeevitham | Surrealism
The Goat Life, also known as Aadujeevitham, is a 2024 film based on the 2008 Malayalam novel of the same name by Benyamin. The film is based on the true story of Najeeb, an Indian man who was forced into slavery as a goat herder in Saudi Arabia in the early 1990s.
A series of Surrealist Acrylic paintings that capture the transformative journey of Najeeb, expressed through various stages of emotional and psychological development. This series diverges from traditional canvas, embracing the unique textures and qualities of surfaces like wood and marble that create a unique dialogue between material and imagery, enhancing the surrealistic elements of the narrative.
Clot of Renaissance
In Clot of Renaissance, the artwork poignantly captures the final stage of Najeeb's harrowing journey. The figure, reduced to skeletal remains intertwined with thin muscles, evokes a visceral sense of mortality and struggle. Surrounding him, the desert is transformed into a vast expanse of bones, symbolizing the omnipresence of death and the harsh realities of survival in an unforgiving landscape.
Despite the stark representation of decay and desolation, a powerful narrative of hope unfolds. Najeeb, depicted as a spectral figure in this bone-laden terrain, strides toward a radiant light in the distance. This illumination serves as a poignant symbol of renaissance—an awakening or rebirth amid despair. It suggests that even in the darkest moments, there exists the potential for transformation and renewal.
The juxtaposition of life and death in the painting reflects the intricate interplay between suffering and resilience. As Najeeb becomes one with the desert, the painting encapsulates the idea that our experiences, no matter how painful, shape our identities and journeys.
Canvas
Wooden scrap
Style Surreal
Type
Acrylic colors
The golden-black hues of the sky symbolize a blend of hope and struggle. The warm gold reflects optimism and renewal, while the black adds depth, emphasizing the weight of Najeeb's journey.
The combination of purple and brown in the desert conveys a sense of mystery and mourning. Purple signifies themes of loss and despair, while brown represents the earthiness and harsh realities of the desert landscape. Together, these colors evoke the complexities of Najeeb's experience, suggesting both desolation and the potential for transformation.
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Charcoal Purple
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Charcoal Black
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Bronze
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Wave of Dunes
Wave of Dunes vividly illustrates a transformative moment in Najeeb's journey. The painting is divided into two distinct halves: one side showcases the vibrant, green-blue waters of the river from his village, while the other half reveals the stark, yellow-brown dunes of the desert.
At the center, Najeeb's side profile is depicted in a powerful scream, embodying the emotional intensity of his transition. This expression captures the tension between his past and the uncertain future that lies ahead. The contrasting elements of water and sand symbolize not only the physical change in his environment but also the profound shift in his identity and purpose.
The shimmering waters represent a life of familiarity and connection, while the arid desert signifies the challenges he must face. The stark division between the two landscapes emphasizes the gravity of this transformation, highlighting the struggle and resilience inherent in Najeeb's journey.
Through this artwork, I aim to convey the themes of change, struggle, and the quest for self-discovery.
Canvas
Broken Marble
Style Surreal
Type
Acrylic colors
The vibrant green-blue hues of the river symbolize life and connection, evoking feelings of freshness and hope, while also suggesting tranquility. In contrast, the yellow-brown hues of the desert represent the harsh realities he faces, conveying struggle and uncertainty, yet hinting at the resilience needed to adapt.
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Chestnut Brown
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Desert Beige
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Dark Sea Green
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Erosion
Erosion captures the mid-point of Najeeb's journey, where his transformation into the desert's very essence reaches its peak. The painting is a fragmented tapestry of granite pieces, each carefully positioned to form a fractured image of Najeeb's state. Symbolizing his complete immersion into this unforgiving landscape.
At the center, where his mouth should be, a jagged void appears—an empty space that resonates with silent despair. This missing piece of granite signifies the loss of his voice, his human identity, and his dream of returning home. Instead of words, his communication has regressed to guttural screams—sounds that echo across the barren terrain and are understood only by the goats he now tends. These cries, raw and unrefined, reflect a life stripped of its former complexities, reduced to mere survival and primal connection.
The scattered granite fragments throughout the painting mirror his fragmented sense of self. They weave through the desert like a constellation of forgotten dreams, evoking the sense that Najeeb has not only adapted to the desert but has become a part of it.
This artwork explores the theme of loss—of identity, purpose, and humanity. It presents Najeeb not as a victim, but as a figure absorbed by his surroundings, transformed by the unrelenting demands of survival.
Canvas
Black Granite
Style Surreal
Type
Acrylic colors
The fragmented painting reflects the themes of Erosion, capturing Najeeb’s shattered identity and eroded humanity. The cracks across the face symbolize his fragmentation, mirroring the void where his voice once existed. He has become part of the desert, his humanity breaking apart like granite under relentless erosion.
The Browns and reds in the eye convey a haunting intensity. These elements evoke the silence and primal existence Najeeb has succumbed to, visually encapsulating his transformation into the desert’s essence.
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Café Noir
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Burgundy Black
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Café Brown
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