Original artwork description:

This painting is the third 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.
To me, each object in these still life paintings represents the human world behind that object - from the hand that made it, to the one that owned it, to the cultural associations, personal memories and emotions attached to its use. My still life speak the hidden language of human artifacts.

These photorealistic paintings present the rich, earthy and warm tones of traditional India, capturing glimpses of its culture and food. 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.

Shringaar in India means adornment and this painting depicts a few traditional Indian elements of a lady’s toilette – elaborate kemp jewellery, gold bangles, a red saree and red kumkum powder to mark her forehead – all laid out ready for her use. Red and gold are the colors of prosperity and are very important in the adornment of brides and married Indian women.

Materials used:

Oil on primed pintura fine grain canvas

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