“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
-Pablo Picasso
On evenings when I’m alone with my thoughts and a cup of tea, this quote by Picasso often comes to mind. I think about how art can truly be a balm to the soul. And how it has been so for me.
A few months ago, I moved back to India temporarily after having lived in New York for more than 20 years. Needless to say, I’ve experienced a whirlwind of emotions ever since. But between the cultural adjustments, relatives’ embraces, familiar foods and nostalgic aromas, I’ve reunited with an old, cherished friend-art and craft in India.
I was born and raised in India but because I left for the States to do my Masters in my early 20s, I never had much exposure to Indian art. At that age, you tend to have more appreciation for boy bands than for fine art. It was only in my early 30s, that my husband and I began discovering and collecting art. It started with the need to adorn the bare walls of our downtown New York loft with something, but before I knew it, I was a self-proclaimed art enthusiast.
I was especially drawn to art by Indian Modernists. Their work always evoked a response in me, perhaps subconsciously I felt it was a window into the country I had left behind. The first piece we bought was a Souza. I think it resonated with me because it perfectly married international and Indian aesthetics. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp the depth of work he had done and just how revered he was as an artist globally.
Once the Souza graced my home, I was smitten. I began frequenting galleries like Saffronart in New York and attending shows at Sotheby’s and Christie’s to immerse myself in the world of Indian modern and contemporary art. It gave me so much joy, I filled my calendar with auction previews and gallery visits.
Speaking of calendars, an empty one is what took me to the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi a few months after I’d relocated. It was the week leading up to my birthday - I had just dropped the boys off at school and had the morning to myself. As an early birthday treat, I took myself to NGMA. When I arrived, it was just opening, so I had the entire space to myself.
And it was then that I rediscovered Iconic Modern Indian artist - Rabindranath Tagore, considered to be a ‘Navratna’ or ‘National Treasure’ of India. It simply means that works of certain artists are prohibited from being exported out of the country.
Of course, I’d read about them and knew how celebrated they were. However, in the States, I’d only come across a few of their pieces here and there, so I didn’t fully get what the fuss was all about. It was that day, while standing at the NGMA in a room brimming with their work, that I finally felt the magic of their art. Having access to so many paintings by Tagore and other Navratnas like Jamini Roy and their likes blew my mind, and I saw it as a once in a lifetime opportunity to soak it all in and rekindle my love with Indian heritage.
Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Head Study’ is an exquisite demonstration of ink on silk and a piece that imagines the human face in a somewhat abstract form. Another piece, ‘Trees’ uses vibrant hues and reflects his appreciation for nature.
The first time I ever went to the NGMA, there was an entire floor with 2 full walls filled with Amrita Sher-Gil’s work. Two pieces that particularly spoke to me were ‘Three Girls’ and ‘Self Portrait 9’. In her brief life span of 28 years, Sher-Gil explored the voice of the Indian woman. She was a feminist long before feminism came in vogue. You will often find us referencing her work on our social media pages.
Sher-Gil, Amrita. Three Girls. 1935
Oil on canvas. National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
Spending time at the NGMA filled me with a sense of joy and pride. I felt like a little girl in a candy store. All these artists that were rare to come across in New York were now accessible to me. I could just walk in and spend an entire day with them. I could do it every week if I wanted to. In fact, I’ve been there thrice already!
Jehangir Sabavala is another one of our favorite artists . A graduate of Sir J.J School of art in Mumbai, his style combines cubism with impressionistic influences. It’s only at the NGMA that I’ve witnessed so many of his breathtaking works. I also came across works of Mrinalini Mukherjee, one of the first Indian women artists, whom I first stumbled upon during a visit to The Met Breuer in New York. She builds large murals and forms from natural fibers such as hemp, jute and cotton. With Liminal, I strive to do something similar - to create wearable art that doesn’t take from the environment.
Tagore, Gaganendranath. Meeting at the Staircase. c. 1920.
Watercolor on paper. National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
The image above is of Gagendranath Tagore’s famous piece, ‘Meeting At The Staircase’. I wondered whether the two women on the steps were looking at something or hiding from something. I thought about what conversation they could be having. After all, the image pulsates with endless narrative possibilities. Gagendranath Tagore is a celebrated Indian artist, but not a traditionally trained one. He painted because it gave him pleasure. By looking at just that piece of his work, you get why he’s so celebrated.
Basu Roy Chowdhury, S. Mussoorie at Night. 1962.
Watercolor on silk. National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
On the top floor I came across S Basu Roy Chowdhury’s ‘Mussoorie At Night’. It’s a watercolor on silk and grabbed my attention from a distance. I noticed the particularly beautiful shade of blue. Maybe this is what they call ‘Midnight Blue’. I made a mental note to use it in my next collection. For a lot of people in North India, Mussoorie is what the Hamptons is for New Yorkers - except with mountains. It’s a popular destination that families flock to for the summer holidays. As I stood in front of this painting, I reminisced about the time I visited Mussoorie as a child. My grandparents would spend every summer there and I - along with a bevy of cousins - would spend the summer enjoying the hills. Back then, I probably never looked up at the sky. Now, having lived in a city dominated by skyscrapers, I can appreciate a clear night sky with twinkling stars. It makes me want to plan a trip to Mussoorie soon, where needless to say, I will look up at the night sky, and remind my children to do the same.
Some other artists worth mentioning are Paramjit Singh, Anupam Sud and Bal Chhabda. Of course, there are many others. Perhaps I’ll discover more about them on my next visit to NGMA!
During the next few months I plan to spend in India, I hope to immerse myself in as much Indian art as possible. I hope for it to feed my soul, and my work. Right now, it almost feels like I’m on a sabbatical, putting our New York lives on pause and hitting play on rediscovering India and its art and craft.
I strive to design sustainable fashion inspired by art while creating awareness about Indian craft and give back to the community that’s given me so much. You can definitely look forward to a lot more stories about our adventures in India here. Keep reading to follow my journey!
