Art Portfolio

India’s Digitization

Portrait of my sister trapped inside a phone. Done in colour pencils, pencils, and markers. It highlights the increasing dependency on technology, and how gadgets consume our daily lives. I want to tie this to India explaining how increased digitalisation has brought economic growth but also has negative effects like losses in relationships.

58.5cm x 35.3cm

Spirituality

Self-portrait done using acrylic paints. Images of Hindu deities also done in acrylic paints. Exploring the vibrant culture of India, and the high spiritual interconnectedness among the
people. I am deeply moved by the philosophical culture of India, finding peace in meditation and worship. It is a glimpse of my identity.

60.5cm x 42cm

Yellow Ambassador Taxi

Here, I have made the infamous Calcutta Ambassador Taxi using pastel pencils. Having been brought up in Calcutta, I have seen these taxis all around me, and they have become a part of my identity. In every corner of the bustling streets of Kolkata one can find an Ambassador Taxi, a relic from old Calcutta.

45.5cm x 30cm

’Maata’ (Mother)

Front profile of a cow done in pencil colours. cows are a prevalent aspect of indian and hindu culture. they are seen as gods themselves- providing for people in every way. I decided to make it pink as the colour brings out the significance of the ‘mother cow’ emphasizing a sort of femininity, while calling for awareness to end mistreatment of the animal.

17cm x 18.5cm

The world through My Eye

Self portrait of my eye done in colour pencils and water colours. i decided to make my own eye to signify how i see the world, and how different perspectives can impact learning and understanding. watercolors show the soft nature of our world- an optimistic perspective. pencil colors contrast this by symbolizing a rough, pessimistic view.

10.5cm x 19cm

Me too?

Self portrait of myself done using a fine-line pen. This refers to our increased dependence on digital technologies, and by using myself as the muse, I have created a sense of irony. The phone being red makes it stand out in the image, implying how our attention is drawn to gadgets rather than other pleasures of life.

21.5cm x 29cm

Kathakali

Portrait of Kathakali dancer done in colour pencils. This dance form is an important part of south Indian culture, depicting mythological stories that audiences can learn from. The powerful expressions of the dancers are works of art themselves, along with their heavy makeup. I wanted to explore indianculture from various parts of India.

29.5cm x 35cm

‘More’ (Peacock)

The peacock is the national bird of India, and a symbol of the country‘s grandeur. much like the peacock, Indian culture is vibrant and grand, attracting attention globally for its uniqueness. This was made using colour pencils.

30cm x 21cm

The widow-maker

This is a depiction of a royal bengal tiger from the sundarbans. It conveys the sheer potential of the region, while also emphasising the importance to protect its magnificence. The tiger’s pugnacious glance and roar are also a reference to the increasing tiger attacks in the Sundarbans, and how it has negatively impacted the people; it is a metaphor for the ‘Tiger widows’.

27.5cm x 34.5cm

Chanting

Done is pencils and pencil colors, this image depicts the hand of an Indian sadhu holding a string of rudraksh beads. This is also a reference to the spirituality of India. rudraksh beads are used during chanting and religious ceremonies, seen as a bridge between the physical and spiritual world. It has been drawn out of observation.

34cm x 27.5cm

Mother Nature

Shot in the Bandhavgarh national park in Rajasthan, it depicts a feeding deer calf and its mother. This is a symbol of the delicate balance of nature, and an appeal to humans to understand the fragility of natural environments.

The Nizam’s Palace

This was shot at the Falaknuma palace in Hyderabad. It echoes the colonial past of India, and how the effects of colonialism are still evident in today’s society. The palace is heavily inspired by Victorian architecture, showcasing the impact of British Raj in India. The greyscale image underscores the suffering that Indians went through throughout British rule.