Tanjore Diaries
They say, one makes it to the big temples of India, only when they call out to you. Maybe they do. But maybe my senses are not tuned to hearing … Continue reading
The Thanjavur Maratha Palace
Every now and then, I come across interesting people I yearn to meet. No – not Brad Pitt or George Clooney. But people like Dostoevsky. And Lee Kuan Yew. Chanakya. … Continue reading
Tanjore Style Painting – Where It all Began
And this is where it all began: This unbelievable Tanjore painting depicting 63 Nayanars, came to be mine in 2020 through an auction in London. Estimated to be from the … Continue reading
Wall Paintings & Murals – Tanjore
The number of visuals vying for the attention of my eyes is mind-boggling. What should I see – what should I stop and stare at, what should I stop and … Continue reading
Shiv Lings at Tanjore
The city of Tanjore is not big geographically. In a single day it is possible to visit the 2 important world heritage sites. But to look at everything that those … Continue reading
Art in Architecture – Tanjore Temple
Traveling again. Gaining experiences. Learning more. Feeling more. And hoping to share them all here. *** Contrary to intuition, on this trip I learnt that the time spent on an … Continue reading
Art in Combs!
Beauty can be exhausting …. Because there is no end to the numbers that can offer this delight. With all the freedom in the world to look at beautiful objects, … Continue reading
The Magic of Hands
Sharing something I read that sort of explains why our beloved textiles have an irresistible attraction: “Grandma how do you deal with pain?” “With your hands, dear. When you do … Continue reading
An Interesting Anecdote….. Dowry
In a recent conversation with one of my rural friends, we were speaking about a tribe that lives mainly in the desert of Rajasthan. He told me of the unique … Continue reading
Wild Life
Living with wild animals – a red leopard with spots in two colors, a yellow-headed gazelle, a striped vulture and many many others – can be very stimulating. Lots of … Continue reading
Revisiting the Kalianda Tampan Shipcloth
It gets very windy in Singapore. And things fall. And break. And this is how the glass of the frame on one of the best surviving Tampans, broke. Previously I … Continue reading
Spectacular Beadworks across Cultures
I begin my mornings ensconced in my room, away from the newspaper, away from any human contact. The thing that won’t let me sleep longer, the one thing that excites … Continue reading
Diverse Media of Dayak Art
I can actually ‘feel’ the compulsion they must have felt to decorate anything and everything around them! Literally any thing! The diversity of media used to express their highly developed … Continue reading
The Nayanar Saints – Exploration through Art
Who expected to be learning history through art? And what will we do with learning all this history? I didn’t ever think it was important to know what other did … Continue reading
Originals, Reproductions, Fakes, Investments …
….and other ramblings. *** In some categories of art it is easy to spot a reproduction. For example the Mona Lisa is a very well known painting and if we … Continue reading
Tech+Art at Christie’s
Technology at the service of art can have amazing results as can be seen from the way the Christie’s Asian Art Auction has been presented online: Take a look: Christie’s … Continue reading
There’s Gold Plated Hotels and then there’s Antique Gold….
WoW! Promotional messages in my mailbox rarely get opened. But when a Gold Plated Hotel came up I was curious. I could imagine only a few places on earth where … Continue reading
Have you ever seen….
A Wave Splitter? It sits on the front of the canoe, and as the name suggests, splits the wave as it hits the boat. And the owner loved his … Continue reading
What Do You Believe In
A note about Imaan or Faith or Allegiance. There ought to be at least one thing – an idea, a love, a craft, a nation, a god – just about … Continue reading
Textiles in a Textile – Study of a 17th C Kalamkari – 3
A study of Costumes & Textiles in a 17th century Kalamkari textile. Note not just the prints and motifs but also the style of the stitched garments! A must-study for … Continue reading
The Best Exotic Azeri Shaddah Weaving
(Title inspired by the Hollywood film Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) So after rummaging through the internet for Shaddahs or Shaddas, I have come to appreciate mine even more than ever. … Continue reading
