The Desert Series

I firmly believe that a particular type of landscape can literally hold your imagination captive at some point or the other. For me right now it is the desert landscape.....The Thar....that Great Indian Desert which apart from being a biogeographic unit of the subcontinent is the birthplace of a unique desert culture. The dusty earthy hues of the sand dunes that dominate the landscape provide a perfect backdrop to the vividly colourful life that a Rajasthani leads. Be it the multicoloured ghaghra cholis or intricately designed shell and metal ornaments, be it cheerfully loud turbans or mirror worked kurtas- the colours of Rajasthan can prove to be a challenge and inspiration at the same time. The colours that stand out starkly against the pale dusty environs seem to remind us of the desert dwellers verve for life amidst hardships unimaginable to most of us. There is an enduring and timeless quality about their culture and life style which makes it a captivating study in contrasts, literally and metaphorically.
I have tried to bring out my fascination for the desert culture of the Thar through a series of paintings. Each one depicts a scene or moment that the desert can uniquely claim as its own....