Traditions

Medium: Acrylic, mixed media with marble powder, foil, and texture on canvas
Dimensions: 24 x 36 inches
Date: 2016

Collector’s Notes

Composition
The work presents itself as a tapestry of symbols, layered textures, and timeworn motifs. Ancient carvings, ornamental patterns, and fragmented architectural forms emerge from a weathered surface, guiding the viewer’s eye toward the central diya (lamp). Its light radiates outward, becoming the anchor of the composition—a flame in the midst of erosion and change. A crumbling fence in the lower plane suggests both fragility and the potential for release.

Color & Light
The palette is dominated by earthy browns, deep teals, and muted golds, evoking patinaed bronze or aged walls steeped in memory. Subtle glints of metallic foil punctuate the surface, catching the light like relics preserved across centuries. In contrast, the small diya shines with quiet brilliance—its glow a focal point of warmth and spiritual clarity within the darker expanse.

Medium & Texture
Built with acrylics, marble powder, and foils, the surface is richly tactile, almost archaeological in feel. Relief-like impressions mimic carvings weathered by time, while layered textures heighten the sense of depth and age. The foil’s luminosity offers a counterpoint, suggesting the resilience of wisdom and values that endure amidst decay.

Style & Story
“Traditions” reflects the duality of cultural inheritance—both the illuminating guidance of practices that nurture identity and belonging, and the oppressive weight of those that must be shed. The diya embodies continuity and reverence, while the broken fence symbolizes the courage to dismantle outdated customs. The piece embodies Gustav Mahler’s dictum: “Tradition is not to preserve the ashes, but to pass on the flame.”

Emotional Connection
To stand before this work is to feel both the weight of history and the possibility of renewal. Its textured surface invites touch and contemplation, while the diya’s radiance offers reassurance: from darkness, light emerges. The painting evokes a sense of grounding, introspection, and the hope that in honoring tradition, we choose which legacies to carry forward.

Context & Significance
Traditions define continuity, shaping collective memory and cultural identity. Yet not all are worth keeping—practices like untouchability, dowry, or child marriage remind us of the importance of questioning what we inherit. This piece becomes both critique and celebration: a preservation of spiritual light, and a call to evolve. For collectors, it represents not only a work of layered beauty but also one of rare conceptual depth—an artwork that bridges heritage, philosophy, and moral clarity.

Message from the Artist

Traditions, for me, are like a double-edged inheritance. They remind us of where we come from, they bind us in love, ritual, and belonging. Yet they also challenge us to discern: to protect what uplifts, and to let go of what harms.

When I painted this piece, I imagined old walls speaking—bearing the imprints of generations, carrying both scars and blessings. The diya at its heart is my offering, a symbol of clarity in the shadows. The foil glimmers as a proxy for divine grace, while the broken fence reminds us of the courage required to dismantle what no longer serves.

This work is my meditation on what it means to carry tradition wisely: not to be imprisoned by the past, but to let its flame guide us forward.