Paraas is the titular work from a new body of monumental oil paintings exhibited at Sakshi Gallery in 2025-26. The title refers to a mythical touchstone believed to turn metal into gold — an alchemical process that parallels Shivan’s fascination with metamorphosis and hybrid identities. In earthy tones, Paraas depicts the soul flanked by the sun and the moon. The work draws from a wide set of influences that include miniature painting, Chola bronzes and devotional imagery.

Raised in Kulananda, Kerala, and later moving to the Aravali Hills in north-western India, the green landscapes of Shivan’s early life have been a long-standing source of inspiration for him. He draws on mythology, folklore, personal memory, scriptural study, and a deep engagement with the natural world.

 Shivan works across drawing, painting, pastels, photography, and video, while also experimenting with organic materials such as hair, deer faeces, bones, and taxidermy. Underpinning his projects are questions of spirituality, the body and desire.

Shivan’s works have been exhibited extensively across the world in museums and public cultural institutions, including at the Tate Modern, MOCA Taipei, Prague Biennale 5, and Kastrupgardsamlingen in Copenhagen. He holds a  Bachelor of Fine Arts from the College of Arts, Delhi and a Master of Visual Arts at Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Agra.