8Th Island of Mumbai Discriminates12 Ft x 4 Ft Triptych, Mixed media on Canvas, Mumbai 2014 | The 8th Island Detail 1Panel 1 of 3 4ft x 4 ft | The 8th Island Detail 2Panel 2 of 3, 4 Ft x 4 Ft | The 8th Island Detail 3Panel 3 of 3, 4 Ft x 4 Ft |
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Elevated Within Lost FoundationsMixed Media on Canvas 38" x 28" x 2," Mumbai 2014 | Elevated Within lost FoundationsDetail 1 | 875 Square Inches of the CityMixed Media on Canvas 38" x 28" x 2," Mumbai 2014 | Gates to HeavenMixed media on canvas 5ft x 3ft x 2," Mumbai 2014 |
Gates to Heaven Detail | Mapping the terrain 1Drawing on old stamp paper from Rajasthan with found text (dated approx. 125 years old) 14" x 9" 2013 | Mapping the Terrain 3Mixed media on an old map of India. 16" x 10," Mumbai 2013 | Mapping the Terrain 5Mixed media on Nepalese paper, 15" x 11," Mumbai 2014 |
THE 8TH ISLAND OF MUMBAI DISCRIMINATES
These series of works based on Bombay, tell narratives of a city through its architectural history, following a similar colour palette of browns, greys, copper, blue & white. The blue shapes & colour represent the slums, being synonymous with the tarp covers that make the roofs of the slum housing. Specs of orange painted in some of the works are symbolic of the political influence in the city. Several of the works such as 'Gates to Heaven' and 'The 8th Island Discriminates,' are a comment on the gated communities that lure people with tag lines such as "Reside in new heights of happiness". Being self-sufficient like small kingdoms they hide the poverty, disparity and filth that surrounds them and promise a better life. A few of the works such as 'Elevated within new foundations,' and '875 square inches of the city,' reference old and new architecture with geometric lines, patterns and shapes interconnecting to reflect an urban space. Motifs and patterns of Indian design are block printed and painted on contrasted with contemporary designs that reflect the rich culture of the country and my biography as an artist, with the series of works such as 'mapping the terrain,' created on old maps and stamp paper.