Contemporary artist Beena S Unnikrishnan’s acclaimed travelling exhibition “Ekaa – The One: The 64 Yoginis Trail” opened in Ahmedabad at the Hutheesing Visual Art Gallery on Tuesday. The exhibition, on an 81-day, 16-state national tour, will be open for three days until February 13.
“Ekaa – The One” brings together 64 original paintings that reimagine India’s ancient Yogini goddesses for a contemporary feminist and spiritual discourse. Conceived as a moving, immersive experience rather than a conventional art show, the exhibition presents the Yoginis not as ritual icons but as living energies of Shakti, representing 64 dimensions of knowledge, consciousness and inner power.
The project is the result of Beena S Unnikrishnan’s decade-long artistic and spiritual journey that began in 2015. Over the years, she travelled extensively to key Yogini temple sites such as Hirapur in Odisha, Morena in Gwalior, Bhedaghat in Madhya Pradesh, and Khajuraho, studying temple histories, mythological narratives and the subtle experiential energies associated with these sacred spaces. Rather than replicating sculptural forms, she created intuitive and meditative translations of each Yogini, blurring the boundaries between the human and the divine.
In her visual language, the Yoginis appear as powerful contemporary feminine presences, who are serene yet resolute, with expressive eyes and flowing hair. Her paintings emphasise psychological and spiritual qualities such as protection, transformation, courage and inner awakening. Figures such as Gauri, associated with renewal and transformation, Charchika, the fierce protector of truth and courage, and Bhadrakali, who cuts through ignorance, are treated as psychological and spiritual archetypes for modern viewers.
Launched in New Delhi on December 4, 2025, “Ekaa – The One” has travelled across cities including Kochi, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Bhopal, drawing strong engagement for its blend of art, spirituality and cultural reclamation. Ahmedabad marks an important stop on the journey, connecting the exhibition with Gujarat’s vibrant cultural audience and its long-standing engagement with heritage and spiritual traditions.
The show presents all 64 canvases together as an immersive environment, positioning Yoginis not as religious idols but as aesthetic, intellectual and political frameworks for reclaiming India’s feminine heritage and re‑balancing masculine–feminine energies.
The exhibition is accompanied by Beena S Unnikrishnan’s book, “Whispers of the Unseen: The Quest for Sixty-Four Yoginis”, which documents the inner and outer journey behind the paintings, weaving together mythology, temple travels and personal experiences.
Visitors can also experience previews of the 65-minute documentary “Y64 – Whispers of the Unseen”, directed by Jain Joseph, which chronicles the artist’s pilgrimage and creative process.
Following Ahmedabad, “Ekaa – The One” will continue its 10,000-km journey to Jaipur, Delhi, Gwalior and ending in April in Chennai.