Old is Gold - SOLD

2009
Diptych – 2 Canvases
20 x 20 in. each
Acrylic, Fabric, Paper, Clay, Sand, Mixed Media
Sold

Collector’s Notes

Composition:
The two canvases evoke the aura of ancient ruins, with richly textured surfaces resembling carved stone, weathered walls, and faded patterns. Amidst the cracks and tarnished surfaces, small saplings with delicate blossoms emerge — subtle symbols of resilience and renewal.

Symbolism:
Drawing on the Indian expression “Khandahar bata rahe hain, ki Imaarat kabhi buland thi” (The ruins tell us that the building was once magnificent), the painting becomes a meditation on time, impermanence, and beauty. The crumbling textures remind us of grandeur lost, yet also highlight the dignity and grace that age bestows. The tender sprouting plants symbolize hope, continuity, and the persistence of life amidst decay.

Medium & Technique:
Through layered acrylics, fabric, paper, clay, and sand, the artist builds a tactile surface rich with cracks and carvings. The highly textured relief mimics both erosion and endurance, creating a sense of timelessness.

Style & Story:
The diptych embodies a contemplative balance between destruction and beauty. It questions how we define allure — is it in perfection, or in the traces left by time? The saplings provide a counterpoint, reminding us that beauty is never fully lost but reborn in new forms.

Emotional Connection:
The work resonates with viewers who are drawn to heritage, memory, and the stories embedded in the passage of time. It stirs both melancholy and admiration — a reminder that disintegration carries its own elegance, and that every ruin whispers of its former magnificence.

Context & Significance:
Created in 2009, Old is Gold reflects the artist’s philosophical exploration of beauty, transience, and renewal. It sits thematically alongside works like Namaste (2010) and Duality (2006), which also grapple with harmony amidst complexity and imperfection.

Message from the Artist

Old is Gold grew out of my fascination with the passage of time and how it transforms everything it touches. I’ve always been captivated by the elegance of ruins, weathered carvings, and surfaces that bear the marks of history. They remind me that beauty doesn’t fade with age — it shifts, deepens, and acquires layers of meaning.

When I built up the textures with paper, clay, fabric, and sand, I wanted the surface itself to feel like an artifact. Tarnished patterns, cracks, and muted tones became a metaphor for resilience — that even when life leaves its imprints on us, there is grace in what remains. The tiny saplings pushing through the ruins were essential, because they affirm that new growth and hope are never far from decay.

For me, this piece is about reverence. It’s about pausing to recognize that impermanence has its own form of magnificence. Old places, like old souls, carry stories that outlast the moment — and in their quiet endurance, they reveal a kind of beauty that feels both fragile and eternal.