My India, Part II: Beyond the Veil

Jan 8

The 2nd piece in my ongoing art series, “My India”!

To me, India is a place where culture, religion, art, and tradition meet in a profound way. Drawing these portraits is more than technical exercise to me; it is a way for me to connect deeply with my roots.

The Spark: I want to give special thanks to photographer Vignesh (Instagram: vignesh_Snaper). I did not take the original reference myself. I sough his permission to recreate this stunning shot. When I first came across the reference photo, the image resonated with me on so many levels. It allowed me to push the boundaries of my graphite work to capture the intensity you see here.

The Story: The portrait depicts a participant in the “Mayanakollai",” a festival celebrated in my home state of Tamil Nadu. The festival is deeply symbolic, commemorating the story of Goddess Parvati in her incarnation as Angala Parameswari Amman.

In this story, Goddess Parvati uses her wit and power to save her husband, Lord Shiva, from peril. Because of this, the festival is a vibrant celebration of the power of women. Art is integral to these rituals as peopl enact and perform, turning themselves into living icons.

The Subject: The intensity of Shiva

The person in this portrait, I believe is a member of the transgender community. In Tamil Nadu, transgender individuals do play significant role in the celebration of certain festivals and rituals.

Here, the subject is adorned with intense makeup of Lord Shiva, which includes the symbolic 3rd eye.

By choosing this reference, I wanted to highlight a beautiful moment of religious participation from a community who are often marginalized in society.

The “Mask”! It reflect the human “masks” we all wear to navigate the world.

Using graphite allowed me to study the contrast between the bold makeup and the real person beneath it.

Through this series, I hope to show that “My India” is a place where divine and the human are constantly intertwined.

I would love to hear thoughts on what this art made you feel!