“Incarnation” by Artist Shyama Golden

Los Angeles-dependent artist Shyama Golden describes oil painting as her very first adore. Even though she pursued a BFA in graphic style and invested a 10 years as a designer and illustrator, exhibiting her paintings only sporadically, Golden ultimately committed complete-time to her artwork observe in 2020. She now has a solo exhibition, “Incarnation,” on view at Good friends In truth Gallery in San Francisco from September 15th-Oct 1st. 

Featuring Sri Lankan masked folk dancers disguised as Yakkas (devils) who traditionally complete in colorful and frequently comedic exorcism rituals to clear away unseen spirits leading to bodily and psychological ailments, Golden’s paintings depict the dancers in mundane American scenes, taking component in various rituals while likely about their lives. These imagined realities reflect her need to link with components of her cultural heritage which are disappearing, and have extra relevance currently as tourist spectacle than their intended intent as an occult therapeutic ritual. “They also act as manifestations of unconscious anxieties which adhere to me just about everywhere,” she says. Quite a few of her latest paintings just take inspiration from the semi-wild and hilly Mount Washington community in Los Angeles where by she lives.

See more from “Incarnation” beneath!