Namaste - SOLD

2010
18 x 24 in.
Mixed Media on Canvas
Sold

Collector’s Notes

Composition:
At the heart of the work lies a sacred arrangement of divine figures and ritual symbols. Sculptural statuettes of Hindu deities and temple motifs form the focal point, framed by textured layers of reds, golds, and ochres. Below, a Sanskrit prayer anchors the composition, grounding it in spiritual tradition.

Color & Texture:
The canvas radiates warmth through its predominantly crimson and golden palette — colors associated with auspiciousness, energy, and divine blessing. The surface is richly tactile, built with fabric, paper pulp, marble powder, and metal elements, giving the piece both depth and a sense of ceremonial gravity.

Medium & Technique:
This is a quintessential mixed-media work, blending painting with assemblage. The incorporation of statuettes, washers (symbolizing the Navagrahas or nine planets), and religious iconography transforms the piece into a shrine-like presence, balancing visual richness with spiritual symbolism.

Style & Story:
Namaste was created to bless the home of a friend, embodying the values of auspicious beginnings, protection, and harmony. It is steeped in Hindu spiritual symbology — coconut, trident, planetary forces, and sacred text — all harmonized into a vibrant tapestry that transcends decorative art to become a spiritual offering.

Emotional Connection:
The work embodies reverence and humility. It not only represents divinity but also reflects the artist’s own philosophy of living in harmony with oneself and the world. The greeting Namaste — “I bow to the divine in you” — becomes both the subject and message of this artwork.

Context & Significance:
Created in 2010, Namaste marks an important point in the artist’s journey with mixed media, where experimentation with materiality and spirituality converge. Sold to bless a friend’s home, the work continues to live as a bearer of goodwill, prosperity, and protection in its new space.

Message from the Artist

This work began as a gift, but it quickly evolved into a personal exploration of reverence and harmony. The act of layering fabric, paper pulp, and found objects mirrored the spiritual layering I wanted to suggest — how rituals, symbols, and beliefs intertwine to create a sense of grounding and auspiciousness.

The presence of deities, prayer text, and planetary symbols offered me a way to weave together cultural memory and personal devotion. Yet beyond religion, what I sought to express was the essence of Namaste: an acknowledgment of the divine in each being. The interplay of elements, though varied in texture and form, coexists here in balance, reflecting the harmony I believe we all strive for in life.

For me, this painting is a reminder that spirituality is not separate from daily living. It is something textured, imperfect, and evolving — much like this composition — but always oriented toward connection, respect, and inner alignment.