“生命的大篷车”艺术展

Caravan of Life

A Wedding Journey

Intention:In my exhibition, I have addressed various cultures and their forms of weddings such as Christian weddings, Indian weddings, Malaysian weddings and Chinese Weddings. All of these works have been solely inspired by my experiences or through stories from close friends and family.

A Melted Flower

Medium: Oil on canvas with melted wax for added texture

Size: 24" x 36"

Date: October 2015

Description: In countries like India, we have forced marriages, where a woman steps into a relationship, which could be frustrating, confusing and depressing. This is what embarked on me when I came up with this painting. I have used melted wax in the background, which enhances the texture of the artwork and symbolizes the nonacceptance towards arranged marriages. Candles have been placed around to denote lights as a message of non-violence. I have decorated the candles with the ancient mehendi art to signify an auspicious beginning according to the Indian culture.

Travelling the Same Path Forever

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 17" x 18"

Date: November 2016

Description: The idea behind this artwork was to illustrate a couple walking down a pathway to embody the journey they would share for the rest of their lives together. A pallet knife was used for the background and brush strokes were used to highlight the image. The artist, Leonid Afremov, whose work was my inspiration behind this painting, lead me to experiment with this particular style.

Dawaat Nama

Medium: Art block and colored paper, markers/ paint on wood pieces

Date: October 2016

Description: Displayed here are various types of invitation cards, alongside repetitive designs and decorative pieces, hung in a gazebo, there is cut work and calligraphy art done on handmade or coloured papers. Fairy lights were used to enhance the creativity and this visual delight is named Dawaat Nama, which is known as feast in Urdu, which correctly symbolizes a wedding as the ritual are only of importance to the close members of the family, whereas the others merely enjoy the feast.

The 6th Challenge

Medium: Water colour and gel pens on handmade paper

Size: 17.5" x 11.5"

Date: February 2017

Description: Having lived in Malaysia, I had a few Chinese friends who told me about Chinese wedding rituals. One such ritual is the setting up of challenges by the bridesmaids for the groom to solve while the bride is closed away to adorn her wedding finery. Once the groom solves the challenges, the groom is allowed to enter the room to take the bride to the rituals, symbolizing the reunion of the bride and groom.

Majestically Bleak

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Size: 25" x 16.5"

Date: October 2016

Description: A wedding bouquet is a vital part of a Christian wedding, which after the ceremony, the bride towards her bridesmaids. The one who catches it, is believed to be the next one to get married. This painting was inspired by the experience I had gained when I worked with a wedding planner to organize an event. The dull grey background contrasts against the joy of weddings with its cold and forbidding colour to depict the disparity that exists in real life.

A New Beginning

Medium: Store bought ribbons, bells, beads, artificial flowers, hanging ornaments and a wooden structure

Size: 34" x 29.5" x 31.5"

Date: March 2017

Description: The decoration of a venue is an integral part of every wedding and loads of planning and money goes into it. This 3D structure is a miniature representation of the ornamented area where a couple exchange their vows and are bound into holy matrimony. The different designs are put in the album, which are embroidered with the material [Kaliras, flowers, pearls] used in the Mandap. It is an integral part of planning a wedding.

Yin and Yang

Medium: Acrylic on Wood, 6 colours of 3 mm quilling strips, White and Black painted match sticks

Size: 17.5" x 11.5"

Date: August 2016

Description: Quilling was one form of creative art that caught my attention and curiosity. As my interest was piqued, I decided to experiment with it. I quilled the subject of the artwork and painted the background with white and black matchsticks in the form of a yin and yang. The background underlines the light in the new journey the couple is to embark on and the formation of the yin and yang implies their seamless union. forbidding colour to depict the disparity that exists in real life.

Fading Traditions

Medium: Small pieces of mount board painted and stuck on foam board

Size: 50" x 12"

Date: May 2016

Description: This art piece is based on the mosaic tile art form. The idea was to draw a traditional "baraat" or a procession [an integral part of Indian wedding, which is rarely followed in recent times. The traditions have now however, slowly faded owing to convenience and advancement in technology which is depicted in my pix-elated baraat.

Their Story

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Roll

Size: 15.5" x 14.5" x 27.5"

Date: June 2016

Description: This piece was enthused by the shows ’Cake Boss’ and `Band Baaja Bride’. Each tier represents the birth of a beautiful relationship, tangibly as well as emotionally. The first tier displays the duo as classmates while the second illustrates a young couple. Next depicts a proposal while the top of the cake has a couple in their wedding finery. I have showcased a Malaysian couple as I have lived there for the past 8 years of my life and therefore wanted to incorporate that aspect of my life, in my art work.

Trapped

Medium: Acrylic, oil pastels and colour pencils on Canvas, painted Matchsticks in the background

Size: 24" x 36"

Date: November 2015

Description: Stories I have heard from near and dear ones inspired this piece. Marriage leads to positive and negative changes as it is a new beginning, which may also feel restraining at times. This applies to both the men and women, but the reason I chose to portray a woman in a sealed jar was because our society being patriarchal, it is the woman who undergoes a change, as she adapts to the rules and regulations of the new household.

Blossoming Bride

Medium:Texture White and Acrylic on Canvas

Size: 24" x 36"

Date: February 2017

Description: This work represents a silhouette of a bride in a wedding outfit, which is only visible when viewed with concentration. Within the human profile, I have painted bamboos, which signify strength and loyalty, and cactus flowers around symbolize endurance and warmth. In this piece of work, I have tried to portray the idea that a woman has to face many hardships in life, but the strength and loyalty within her, along with the hope that the flowers embody, help her overcome the trials and tribulations of life and love.

The way I decided to present these works was to hang them from trees that are on either side of a path. This idea came about when I was walking down that path one day after school. Standing at the end of it, I visualized it to look like an aisle, one that a bride would walk down in a church to take her vows with her loved one.