PAINTINGS : Brocades Painting Series
Silk Brocades-2 (detail)
Brocades Painting Series
For the past 5 years, I have been using remnant thread sourced directly from weaver communities. Collected during my annual trips to Eastern India, I use these threads for my fiber wall sculptures as well as in my most current paintings. In a more literal sense, the meaning of this directly sourced material is growing in significance in my work physically and conceptually. Intertwining all these elements are at the foundation of my practice as an artist and what inspires me to pursue the layered direction of my multi-media approach.
The Brocades Painting Series uses bright, loud and vibrant colors from my East Indian roots and heritage. Within this series, gold serves as a continuum in material and color. My organic textures, line work and color, capture my memories of the fabric of the saris as well as the essences of their unique patterns. With celebratory origins of Indian weddings and festivals, my color and material selections are intended to elicit uplifting emotions.
For the past 5 years, I have been using remnant thread sourced directly from weaver communities. Collected during my annual trips to Eastern India, I use these threads for my fiber wall sculptures as well as in my most current paintings. In a more literal sense, the meaning of this directly sourced material is growing in significance in my work physically and conceptually. Intertwining all these elements are at the foundation of my practice as an artist and what inspires me to pursue the layered direction of my multi-media approach.
The Brocades Painting Series uses bright, loud and vibrant colors from my East Indian roots and heritage. Within this series, gold serves as a continuum in material and color. My organic textures, line work and color, capture my memories of the fabric of the saris as well as the essences of their unique patterns. With celebratory origins of Indian weddings and festivals, my color and material selections are intended to elicit uplifting emotions.
PAINTINGS : Brocades Rainbow Series
Silk Brocades-Rainbow Group 6 (detail)
Silk Brocades-Rainbow Group 7 (detail)
Silk Brocades-Rainbow Group 5 (a,b,c) 18"x18". 2022
PAINTINGS (2015-2018)
EARLY WORKS- LARGE PAINTINGS (2010)
Scale is an important part of my work. I like to make large works that cover the entire wall or floor space. My work is intended to speak to the whole body, rather than eyes alone.
SEA OF BLUE (2010)
"Sea of Blue" (Wall Installations) Acrylic on Canvas. Size: 100"W x 100"H. Year: 2010.
This Wall Installation was on Exhibit at SOMArts Bay Gallery, San Francisco, 2010. Juried Group Exhibit-“Blue Planet” presented by the Pacific Region Women's Caucus for the Arts, a national juried Eco-art exhibition.
Statement
This artwork addresses community values and human relationships with nature. It speaks with both the mind and heart. “Sea of Blue” focuses awareness on nature. My microscopic view, it represents ice’s molecular breakdown into water. Conceptually, the cellular patterning in my painting is about looking closely into something. Here it raises the issue of glacier melts and the effects on global warming.
This painting also connects me with my Hindu upbringing and heritage. Its field of circles is made by my repeatedly scratching the wet painted surface. The physicality of the repetitive circling process transports me into a calming meditative state. It is as though I am immersing myself into water as in ritual bathing, a cross-cultural purification rite. My intention is for this large blue painting to similarly draw the viewer into it.”
Statement
This artwork addresses community values and human relationships with nature. It speaks with both the mind and heart. “Sea of Blue” focuses awareness on nature. My microscopic view, it represents ice’s molecular breakdown into water. Conceptually, the cellular patterning in my painting is about looking closely into something. Here it raises the issue of glacier melts and the effects on global warming.
This painting also connects me with my Hindu upbringing and heritage. Its field of circles is made by my repeatedly scratching the wet painted surface. The physicality of the repetitive circling process transports me into a calming meditative state. It is as though I am immersing myself into water as in ritual bathing, a cross-cultural purification rite. My intention is for this large blue painting to similarly draw the viewer into it.”
GOLD SERIES III
Gold Series III. Year:2009. Medium:Acrylic on Canvas. Size:108"W x 36"H (three 36"W x 36"H canvas)
Gold Painting Series Statement (2010):
This Gold Paintings Series is about looking closely into this material “Gold”. “Cash for Gold” counters popping up in local US malls are a reflection of today’s economy. Even today, Indians living in India and US buy and hoard gold as a form of wealth. My “Gold Series” of artworks also echoes the values of today’s material world.
I chose to work with the color gold and gold thread because gold is universally associated with preciousness and has cultural significance for me. From my upbringing, I associate gold with jewelry and brocaded clothing like saris. These items are usually passed on from mother to daughter, form one generation to another. I have heard several stories from my mom and grandparent about the exchanges. There is an emotional attachment with jewelry/saris as it passes hands, a feeling of joy when new jewelry is received/bought, and sadness when it is sold in times of contingencies. Through art, I am trying to make a connection between the two cultures I am familiar with — my Indian origin, and the American culture in which I am living. As I do my research on this precious metal certain information that I find intrigues me.
This Gold Paintings Series is about looking closely into this material “Gold”. “Cash for Gold” counters popping up in local US malls are a reflection of today’s economy. Even today, Indians living in India and US buy and hoard gold as a form of wealth. My “Gold Series” of artworks also echoes the values of today’s material world.
I chose to work with the color gold and gold thread because gold is universally associated with preciousness and has cultural significance for me. From my upbringing, I associate gold with jewelry and brocaded clothing like saris. These items are usually passed on from mother to daughter, form one generation to another. I have heard several stories from my mom and grandparent about the exchanges. There is an emotional attachment with jewelry/saris as it passes hands, a feeling of joy when new jewelry is received/bought, and sadness when it is sold in times of contingencies. Through art, I am trying to make a connection between the two cultures I am familiar with — my Indian origin, and the American culture in which I am living. As I do my research on this precious metal certain information that I find intrigues me.