Star Struck

What is the place of the self in the universe? Desmond Lazaro scours the sky for signs, reveals Pooja Savansukha.

- Pooja Savansukha

In 2018, Desmond Lazaro lost his mother to cancer, a profound moment of loss that provoked him to scan the skies as she "slipped into the stars". He quickly realised that while we could always make bigger telescopes to look at the universe, it is equally important to consider "who and what is doing the looking". This led the artist to simultaneously search inward to understand his own centrality within the wider world. His resulting exploration that traverses everything from contemporary astrophysics to indigenous systems of knowledge features in his solo show Cosmos at Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai, held from the 10th of February to the 26th of March.

Here, his paintings that reference medieval representations of the heavens, zodiac symbolism, and astronomical studies from various periods and cultures, showcase his geometrical rigour, miniature painting background, and prowess in 15th-century gold gilding. Stemming from a close relationship to his process as well as a deep personal inquiry, these meditative works tread lines between precision and speculation, truth and wonder.