Dr. Bhawani Shankar

This sculpture accentuates the human-like presence of the series, taking the form of a stylized mask with pronounced, exaggerated facial features.

The vertical rectangular tube in the center reads as a long, rigid nose, while two smaller circular pipes positioned symmetrically on either side become eye sockets. Above them, a round, flat disc crowns the head like a headpiece or symbolic third eye, lending the form an aura of ritual authority. The curved, flared pipes framing the central structure create a dramatic contour, recalling horns, ears, or wings, expanding the mask beyond human likeness into something animalistic or mythic.

The rough welds, jagged cuts, and rust-toned metal emphasize its origin in industrial detritus, yet the arrangement transforms scrap into a commanding visage that feels both protective and menacing. The vertical stack of square openings at the base adds to the sense of a mouth or vocal cavity, suggesting sound, breath, or speech. In this way, the sculpture resonates like a relic of an invented culture—part warrior mask, part mechanical guardian—bridging the primal and the modern through its forceful, totemic presence.