Original artwork description:

This painting is the fifth in my series called "Pitara - my Indian treasure trove". This is my still life series in oils that turns a Flemish eye on my country.

Drishti showcases an age-old Indian symbol intended to ward off the so-called 'evil eye'. One or two lemons strung together on a black thread with seven green chilies is the Indian version of the Turkish nazar-boncuk (nazar-battu as it is called in the Indian subcontinent). Still widely used outside shops and house doors and hung on trucks and cars - the lemon-chili combination is powerful in its symbolism and rooted in Indian culture and way of life. In this photorealistic rendition, the freshly strung together lemon and chilies nazar-battu glows bright and auspicious in the small copper bowl.

The photorealistic paintings in my Pitara series present the rich, earthy and warm tones of traditional India, capturing glimpses of its culture. The deep shadows and play of light on traditional materials draw inspiration from Flemish paintings and so does the multi-layered technique used to render these still life paintings. Through this series, I present Indian heritage through the lens of Flemish still life - a Western idiom vastly different from the art traditions of India. The language is Flemish and still life, the ideas and expressions Indian.

Materials used:

Oil on primed pintura fine grain canvas

Tags: